Assessment vs Evaluation – Difference and Comparison

What is Assessment?

Assessment is defined as a methodical process of determining the value, quality, or importance of something or someone. Assessment helps us know the level of performance of a thing or a person. 

It also lets us know what are the areas of improvement where we can work to increase or maximize performance. It is based on observation and positive and negative points.

Assessment is an ongoing process that involves two parties, that are the assessor and the assessee. The assessor is the person who assesses the performance, and the assessee is the person being assessed. Assessment consists of setting up goals, collecting information, and using it for increasing quality.

What is Evaluation?

The word ‘evaluation’ comes from the word ‘value’ which refers to the ‘usefulness of something.  The evaluation consists of passing judgment based on a set of standards. It helps us determine the utility of something. Evaluation is an objective process of measuring something or someone, intending to conclude, by making a comparison to some standard criteria.

It checks the performance of a person, project, process, or product to determine its importance or worth. It includes both qualitative and quantitative analysis of data.

It verifies if the standards or objectives established are being met or not. If they are being met, then it finds the difference between actual and intended outcomes.

Difference Between Assessment and Evaluation

Assessment is the process of collecting, analyzing, and using data, for performance improvement. Whereas evaluation is the process of passing judgment, based on defined evidence and criteria.

Assessment tends to identify areas of improvement and hence is diagnostic. On the other hand, evaluation is judgemental, as it aims at providing an overall grade.

Comparison Between Assessment and Evaluation

Parameter of Comparison  AssessmentEvaluation
DefinitionIt is a process of collecting, analyzing, and using data, for improvement in current performance.It is the process of passing judgment, based on defined evidence and criteria.  
NatureDiagnosticJudgemental
ObjectiveGive feedback on performance and areas of improvement.Determine the extent to which objectives are achieved.
PurposeFormativeSummative
FeedbackDepending on the pros and cons.Based on the level of quality compared to set standards.
Relationship with partiesReflectivePrescriptive
CriteriaJointly set by both parties.Set by the respective evaluator.

References

  1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02602930500099102