The concept of "pre-evaluative research" is examined in the context of a museum
exhibition evaluation. Preevaluation research was recommended by some of the earliest
writers in the evaluation field as a way of facilitating a formal, "ultimate, "of summative
evaluation. It is viewed as distinct from, and complementary to, an evaluability
assessment. The exhibit preevaluative study indicates that instrumentation and imple
mentation issues are likely to benefit from such activities, but that design and analysis may
still suffer.
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