TY - JOUR
T1 - The certainty of judgments in health evaluations
AU - Smith, Nick L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The work reported herein was supported in part by Contract No. 400-80-10105 of the National Institute of Education. It does not, however, necessarily reflect the views of that agency, nor of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Requests for reprints should be sent to Nick L. Smith, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, 300 S.W. Sixth Ave., Portland, OR 97204.
PY - 1981
Y1 - 1981
N2 - Most evaluators seem to presume that all evaluative studies should result in conclusive evidence. Often, however, less than conclusive evidence may not only suffice, but be the only real alternative under conditions of limited evaluation resources. Three levels of evidence common to evaluation studies are discussed: suggestive evidence, preponderant evidence, and conclusive evidence. Ten factors are also presented which can be used to determine the level of certainty appropriate for a given evaluation study. Consideration of these factors enables the evaluator to specify when less than conclusive evidence is acceptable.
AB - Most evaluators seem to presume that all evaluative studies should result in conclusive evidence. Often, however, less than conclusive evidence may not only suffice, but be the only real alternative under conditions of limited evaluation resources. Three levels of evidence common to evaluation studies are discussed: suggestive evidence, preponderant evidence, and conclusive evidence. Ten factors are also presented which can be used to determine the level of certainty appropriate for a given evaluation study. Consideration of these factors enables the evaluator to specify when less than conclusive evidence is acceptable.
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U2 - 10.1016/0149-7189(81)90028-8
DO - 10.1016/0149-7189(81)90028-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 10255500
AN - SCOPUS:0019718432
SN - 0149-7189
VL - 4
SP - 273
EP - 278
JO - Evaluation and Program Planning
JF - Evaluation and Program Planning
IS - 3-4
ER -