Assessment vs. Evaluation

In almost all aspects of a scientific inquiry or study, clinicians and professionals use their own methods to help them arrive at their solution. Doctors, nurses, scientists and many others all agree, that a step by step approach to problem solving, is the key to finding the best answer.

In the said process, the steps often include assessments, goal setting, plans, implementations and evaluations. The two sections that are the most worthy to mention, are the assessment phase and the evaluation phase. In an assessment, you are going to clearly note all data, which includes the objective and subjective claims of your subject. Everything that has transpired, and has been observed by you, for a certain period of time, is included in this preliminary step. Thus, an assessment is obviously the first step in a scientific process or inquiry. This forms the basis for future evaluations, whether there has been a change or not, and is considered to be the preliminary evidences of the study. It is also important to note, that the main purpose of assessment is to bring about improvement in the subject under study. This subject can be of any type, may it be a happening or event, a place, a condition or an individual.

On the contrary, an evaluation, or evaluations, are a set of statements or activities that seek to point out whether the objectives were met. It is the last part of the inquiry, and involves telling the people whether the solution or the goal has been realized or not. Evaluation can result in three things: One is that there has been a positive change, the second being a negative change, and the last being no change or development at all. By comparing the outcomes with the preliminary data noted in the assessment, clinicians can easily form the basis of their evaluation. In the case of teachers, for example, when they give certain marks (scores) to their students, they are already giving an evaluation. It is through this process that they can gauge the performance and overall learning of their students.

In summary, assessment and evaluation are the terminal ends of all scientific inquiries. They need each other, and they support one another. They are also essential for the improvement of the subject or the person.

1. Assessment is done at the beginning of the inquiry, whereas evaluation is usually done at the end.

2. Assessment seeks to note down all data, both subjective and objective, while evaluation notes down whether there has been changes or improvements in the data.