Educators must also consider the issues of quality and feasibility. The manner in which the information will be used determines the level of technical quality that needs to be achieved. In general, the more importance attached to the use of the information, the higher the necessary levels of reliability and validity. However, quality concerns should be balanced against practical realities. Cost, time burdens, and acceptability by stakeholders are also important considerations in selecting assessment methods.
Some approaches are cheaper, less intrusive, and more familiar than others.
In the end, no single assessment approach is best for all situations. However, fairly simple considerations can guide assessment planning. Our study illustrates the breadth of the existing alternative approaches, their utility in the vocational context, and some of the trade-offs vocational educators face when making choices among them.