Notes: Classifying Research Questions Addressed in Published Evaluation Studies

Abstract

All question and answer propositions from 25 education and 38 health evaluation studies published between 1976 and 1987 were categorized by means of a 29-category scheme reflecting the logical operation of the evaluation questions. Results of this analysis were compared with a prior classification of questions addressed in empirical educational research. The findings suggest how evaluators may be translating stakeholder concerns into empirical questions and the relationships between evaluation questions and choice of methods. Limitations of this form of analysis are also discussed.