DeGEval Standards
for evaluation
DeGEval's "Standards for Evaluation" define fundamental requirements for the quality of evaluation. They thus represent an essential professional point of reference and at the same time an important milestone for the professionalization of evaluation. The further development and dissemination of evaluation standards is a key objective of DeGEval. In addition to the standards themselves, the full version of the standards contains a range of additional information. This includes an outline of the development of the standards, conceptual and terminological foundations, justifications and implementation notes for each individual standard as well as a glossary.
The revised version of the standards, which were first adopted in 2001, was approved by the General Assembly on September 21, 2016 after a revision process lasting several years. The revised standards can be found here. A printed version of the revised version can be ordered from the DeGEval office at a price of 15 euros. Orders can be placed by e-mail.
Usefulness
N 1 Identification of stakeholders and affected parties
The parties involved in the evaluation object or evaluation and those affected by the evaluation object or evaluation should be identified in advance so that their interests and information requirements can be clarified and taken into account as far as possible in the design of the evaluation.
N 2 Clarification of the evaluation purposes
The purposes of the evaluation should be clearly defined so that those involved and affected can take a position and the evaluators can pursue a clear mandate.
N 3 Competence and credibility of the evaluator
Those who carry out evaluations should be professionally and methodologically competent so that the evaluation and its results achieve maximum credibility and acceptance.
N 4 Selection and scope of information
The selection and scope of the information collected should make it possible to adequately answer the questions to be examined regarding the object of the evaluation and take into account the information needs of the commissioning party and other stakeholders and affected parties.
N 5 Transparency of values
The values of those involved and affected, which manifest themselves in their perspectives and assumptions and have an influence on the evaluation and interpretation of its results, should be documented transparently in order to be able to better classify evaluation results.
N 6 Completeness and clarity of reporting
Evaluation reports should provide all essential information and be understandable and comprehensible for their addressees.
N 7 Timeliness of the evaluation
Evaluation projects should be started and completed in good time so that their results can be incorporated into upcoming decision-making, improvement or other utilization processes.
N 8 Use and benefit of the evaluation
The planning, implementation and reporting of an evaluation should encourage those involved and affected to support the evaluation and make use of its results.
Feasibility
D 1 Appropriate procedures
Evaluation procedures, including the procedures for obtaining the necessary information, should be selected in such a way that, on the one hand, the evaluation is implemented professionally and in accordance with the requirements and, on the other hand, the effort for those involved and affected is kept in an adequate relationship to the intended benefit of the evaluation.
D 2 Diplomatic approach
Evaluations should be planned and carried out in such a way that the highest possible level of acceptance can be achieved among the various participants and stakeholders with regard to the procedure and results of the evaluation.
D 3 Efficiency of evaluation
The cost of evaluation should be proportionate to the benefit of the evaluation.
Fairness
F 1 Formal agreements
The rights and obligations of the parties involved in an evaluation (what should and may be done, how, by whom and when) should be set out in writing.
F 2 Protection of individual rights
Evaluations should be planned and conducted in such a way that the rights, safety and dignity of the individuals involved in an evaluation are protected.
F 3 Comprehensive and fair assessment
Evaluations should examine and present the strengths and weaknesses of the evaluation object as fairly and comprehensively as possible.
F 4 Impartial conduct and reporting
The evaluation should take into account the different perspectives of participants and stakeholders on the subject matter and results of the evaluation. The entire evaluation process and the evaluation reports should reflect the impartial position of the evaluators.
F 5 Disclosure of results and reports
Evaluation results and reports should be made accessible to all participants and stakeholders as far as possible.
Accuracy
G 1 Description of the Target of Evaluation
Both the concept of the Target of Evaluation and its implementation should be accurately and comprehensively described and documented.
G 2 Context analysis
The context of the Target of Evaluation should be analyzed comprehensively and in sufficient detail and taken into account in the interpretation of results.
G 3 Description of purposes and approach
The purposes, questions and approach of the evaluation, including the methods used, should be documented and described in such detail that they can be understood and assessed.
G 4 Indication of sources of information
The sources of information used in an evaluation should be documented in sufficient detail so that the reliability and appropriateness of the information can be assessed.
G 5 Valid and reliable information
Data collection methods and data sources should be selected in such a way that the reliability of the data obtained and its validity in relation to answering the evaluation questions are ensured according to professional standards. The professional standards should be based on the quality criteria of empirical research.
G 6 Systematic error checking
The information collected, prepared, analyzed and presented in an evaluation should be systematically checked for errors.
G 7 Appropriate analysis of qualitative and quantitative information
Qualitative and quantitative information from an evaluation should be analyzed appropriately and systematically according to professional standards so that the evaluation questions can be answered.
G 8 Substantiated assessments and conclusions
The evaluative statements made in an evaluation should be based on explicit criteria and target values. Conclusions should be explicitly justified on the basis of the data collected and analyzed so that they can be understood and assessed.
G 9 Meta-evaluation
Meta-evaluations evaluate evaluations. To make this possible, evaluations should be documented in a suitable form, archived and made accessible as far as possible.