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Unit 8 Trends and Issues
Unit 8 Trends and Issues
Systemic Approach:
The Goal-Free Model considers the broader systemic
context in which the program operates, recognizing
that the outcomes may be influenced by various factors
beyond the immediate program itself.
Goal-Free Model
• Benefits of the Goal-Free Model:
1. Reduced Bias: By not focusing on predefined goals, evaluators can avoid confirmation bias
and focus more objectively on actual program outcomes.
2. Unintended Consequences: The model helps identify both positive and negative unintended
consequences, which might not be apparent when evaluating based on preconceived goals.
3. Improved Program Design: Insights gained from the evaluation can inform program
improvements, leading to more effective educational interventions.
4. Comprehensive Understanding: A goal-free evaluation provides a more holistic
understanding of a program's impact on participants, capturing a broader range of effects.
5. Learning Opportunities: The focus on learning rather than predetermined outcomes
encourages a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability.
Goal-Free Model
• Challenges of the Goal-Free Model:
1. Subjectivity: The lack of predefined goals may make the evaluation process
more subjective and open to interpretation.
2. Resource Intensive: Gathering comprehensive data from multiple perspectives
can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
3. Difficultyin Comparisons: Without predefined goals, making comparisons
between different programs or interventions can be challenging.
• The Goal-Free Model is particularly useful when evaluating complex
educational programs or those with uncertain outcomes. It can provide valuable
insights that complement traditional goal-oriented evaluation approaches and
foster a more inclusive and balanced understanding of program effects.
Comparison of Norm-Referenced and
Criterion-Referenced Evaluation