Evaluation Paradigms

Abstract

Evaluation is a key component of educational scholarship endeavors including projects such as curriculum development, program evaluation, and educational research. Paradigms are the conceptual frameworks that guide evaluation efforts in a logical and systematic manner. Some evaluation frameworks include Bloom’s taxonomy, Miller’s pyramid, Kirkpatrick’s four-step model, and evaluation component of the six-step approach to curriculum development. Evaluation is not what comes after all teaching and learning activities are completed. Instead, evaluation planning begins while developing the research questions and learning outcomes. Evaluation design and evaluation measures provide a blueprint for the rest of the scholarly effort and are used by peers to judge the rigor and credibility of the scholarship design and evaluation results. Overall, establishing a robust evaluation component is a crucial initial step to consider early when a health scholar is starting a new project. The evaluation design is central to building a compelling argument for the merits of a given scholarly project and its dissemination.