ERIC Number: EJ1025462
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1743-727X
EISSN: N/A
From Evaluation to Research
Arthur, Linet; Cox, Elaine
International Journal of Research & Method in Education, v37 n2 p137-150 2014
Traditionally there has been a tension between evaluation research and so-called pure research which has resulted in evaluation research seldom being recognized by the UK Research Assessment Exercises. The newly configured Research Excellence Framework (REF) will use similar criteria to judge research, notwithstanding the introduction of "impact" to the assessment criteria. However, there are increasing numbers of academics employed in Higher Education who focus on evaluation studies as part of their work. This work, whilst providing the institution with valuable funding, draws them away from pure research and unless they can find ways to establish their credibility in terms of research publications, their careers may be affected. Drawing on the researchers' own experience of evaluation research, together with focus group data, this article is concerned with ways in which evaluation can be developed to become research that will be recognized by the academic community for REF purposes. The article explores the similarities between research and evaluation in relation to purpose, knowledge production, politics, objectivity, generalizability and confidentiality, and presents a number of recommendations to help academics use evaluation findings as research.
Descriptors: Evaluation Research, Foreign Countries, Focus Groups, Criteria, Educational Research, Higher Education, Knowledge Level, Political Issues, Research Methodology, Generalization, Confidentiality
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A