Self-Evaluation Principles

Evaluation Support Scotland have a range of tools and advice on self-evaluation based on outcomes rather than outputs. Some of the tools presented on this site are from Evaluation Support Scotland or adapted from their forms.

The language used by Evaluation Support Scotland suggests that improved outcomes could be a change in someone’s:
Knowledge Skills Feelings Behaviour Condition

And that the measurements of better outcomes could be if these features:
Increased Decreased Improved Expanded Reduced Sustained

Some of these outcomes might not be too difficult to measure.
• An increase in knowledge can be tested by assessment, written or verbal.
• An improvement in skills can be assessed through formal observation, presentation or demonstration.
• If somebody’s condition improves, there will be a decrease in the signs and symptoms which indicated the condition in the first place.

While we can measure knowledge in the sense of things learned, an increase in understanding about how people think about themselves and others will require listening to that person.

We can only measure another’s feelings by finding out from them. We need some way of comparing their feelings now with a base line to see if there has been any improvement. Because feelings are subject to fluctuation, this will need to be measured over a period of time.

To measure an improvement in behaviour, naturalistic observation will be needed or self/other report of changes in behaviour. It will need a base line to measure if there is any improvement and to demonstrate that these changes are sustained over time.