Editing Evaluation (section)

===Classification of approaches===
Two classifications of evaluation approaches by House<ref>House, E. R. (1978). Assumptions underlying evaluation models. ''Educational Researcher''. 7(3), 4-12.</ref> and Stufflebeam and Webster<ref name=Stufflebeam>Stufflebeam, D. L., & Webster, W. J. (1980). [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1163593 "An analysis of alternative approaches to evaluation"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109021113/http://www.jstor.org/stable/1163593 |date=2016-11-09 }}. ''[[Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis]]''. 2(3), 5-19. {{oclc|482457112}}</ref> can be combined into a manageable number of approaches in terms of their unique and important underlying principles.{{Clarify|date=May 2012}}

House considers all major evaluation approaches to be based on a common [[ideology]] entitled [[liberal democracy]]. Important principles of this ideology include freedom of choice, the uniqueness of the [[individual]] and [[Empiricism|empirical]] inquiry grounded in [[Objectivity (philosophy)|objectivity]]. He also contends that they are all based on [[Subject (philosophy)#Subjectivism|subjectivist]] ethics, in which ethical conduct is based on the subjective or intuitive experience of an individual or group. One form of subjectivist ethics is [[Utilitarianism|utilitarian]], in which "[[Goodness and value theory|the good]]" is determined by what maximizes a single, explicit interpretation of happiness for society as a whole. Another form of subjectivist ethics is [[Ethical intuitionism|intuitionist]]/[[Value pluralism|pluralist]], in which no single interpretation of "the good" is assumed and such interpretations need not be explicitly stated nor justified.

These ethical positions have corresponding [[Epistemology|epistemologies]]—[[Philosophy|philosophies]] for obtaining [[knowledge]]. The objectivist epistemology is associated with the utilitarian ethic; in general, it is used to acquire knowledge that can be externally verified (intersubjective agreement) through publicly exposed [[Methodology|methods]] and [[data]]. The subjectivist epistemology is associated with the intuitionist/pluralist ethic and is used to acquire new knowledge based on existing personal knowledge, as well as experiences that are (explicit) or are not (tacit) available for public inspection. House then divides each epistemological approach into two main political perspectives. Firstly, approaches can take an elite perspective, focusing on the interests of managers and professionals; or they also can take a mass perspective, focusing on [[consumer]]s and [[Participation (decision making)|participatory]] approaches.

Stufflebeam and Webster place approaches into one of three groups, according to their orientation toward the role of [[Value (personal and cultural)|values]] and ethical consideration. The political orientation promotes a positive or negative view of an object regardless of what its value actually is and might be&mdash;they call this [[pseudo-]]evaluation. The questions orientation includes approaches that might or might not provide answers specifically related to the value of an object&mdash;they call this [[wikt:quasi|quasi]]-evaluation. The values orientation includes approaches primarily intended to determine the value of an object&mdash;they call this true evaluation.

When the above concepts are considered simultaneously, fifteen evaluation approaches can be identified in terms of epistemology, major perspective (from House), and orientation.<ref name=Stufflebeam/> Two pseudo-evaluation approaches, politically controlled and public relations studies, are represented. They are based on an objectivist epistemology from an elite perspective. Six quasi-evaluation approaches use an objectivist epistemology. Five of them—[[experiment]]al research, management [[information systems]], testing programs, objectives-based studies, and [[content analysis]]—take an elite perspective. Accountability takes a mass perspective. Seven true evaluation approaches are included. Two approaches, decision-oriented and [[policy]] studies, are based on an objectivist epistemology from an elite perspective. Consumer-oriented studies are based on an objectivist epistemology from a mass perspective. Two approaches—accreditation/certification and [[connoisseur]] studies—are based on a subjectivist epistemology from an elite perspective. Finally, adversary and [[Person-centered therapy|client-centered]] studies are based on a subjectivist epistemology from a mass perspective.