Which evaluation type determines whether project outcomes met the original objectives?

Which evaluation type determines whether project outcomes met the original objectives?

• A. Formative
• B. Summative
• C. Process
• D. Impact

Answer: (B)

Summative evaluation is used to judge the overall effectiveness at the end of a program by comparing the actual results to the original objectives. It directly answers whether the outcomes met the intended goals, providing a clear assessment of success and informing decisions about continuation, scaling, or replication. Formative evaluation happens during development to improve how the program is run, process evaluation focuses on how the program was implemented, and impact evaluation examines broader, longer-term effects and attribution.

Summative evaluation is used to judge the overall effectiveness at the end of a program by comparing the actual results to the original objectives. It directly answers whether the outcomes met the intended goals, providing a clear assessment of success and informing decisions about continuation, scaling, or replication. Formative evaluation happens during development to improve how the program is run, process evaluation focuses on how the program was implemented, and impact evaluation examines broader, longer-term effects and attribution.