Making sound judgments requires timely access to valid and reliable information pertaining to the alternatives. The availability of such information can be enhanced through a systematic means to provide it. The processes necessary for providing the information for decision-making collectively comprise the concept of evaluation. Since the primary role of evaluation is to provide relevant information and informed judgments to key decisionmakers, evaluation activity should be initiated by finding out what decisions are to be made. To facilitate the classification of educational decisions in any type of educational or training program, one may initially choose to focus exclusively on the functions of decisions.
Public credibility requires demonstrable proof of the assertions about the value of education.
Vocational programs should be able to demonstrate clearly that they are providing valid, work-related education in occupations for which there is a job market, and that this education is provided on an optimally efficient basis. Beyond credibility and competition for scarce resources, good educational programming requires continual evaluation and feedback. Decisions about educational programs should be based on valid information regarding how well they are currently operating and what other options are open to the institution. The major purpose of evaluation is to improve institutional performance. It must assist the decisionmaker in ascertaining whether program objectives have been achieved, and even whether they should be changed.