1. The Goals and Objectives:
* What are you trying to achieve? The evaluation criteria should directly reflect the desired outcomes, standards, or benchmarks set for the project, program, or individual.
* Examples: If you're evaluating a student's performance, the criteria should align with the learning objectives of the course. If you're evaluating a new marketing campaign, the criteria should reflect the campaign's objectives (e.g., increased brand awareness, website traffic, sales).
2. The Context and Standards:
* What are the relevant industry standards, best practices, or regulations? The criteria should be based on a comparison to relevant benchmarks or expectations in the field.
* Examples: If you're evaluating a software program, you might consider the usability standards of the industry. If you're evaluating a restaurant, you might consider the health and safety regulations.
3. Stakeholder Needs and Expectations:
* Who are the key stakeholders? What are their needs and expectations for the project, program, or individual being evaluated? The criteria should address these needs and perspectives.
* Examples: When evaluating a new employee, consider the expectations of their manager, team members, and clients. When evaluating a social service program, consider the needs and perspectives of the program participants, community members, and funders.
4. Data and Evidence:
* What data and evidence are available? The evaluation criteria should be informed by the available data and evidence.
* Examples: If you have sales data, you can use it to evaluate the effectiveness of a marketing campaign. If you have student test scores, you can use them to evaluate the effectiveness of a new teaching method.
5. Existing Frameworks and Models:
* Are there any established frameworks or models that can guide the development of evaluation criteria? There are many established frameworks and models for different types of evaluation.
* Examples: The Kirkpatrick model is commonly used to evaluate training programs, while the Logic Model can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of any program or intervention.
In short, evaluation criteria is gathered from a thorough analysis of:
* What you are trying to achieve (goals and objectives)
* How it compares to relevant standards and expectations (context and standards)
* The needs and expectations of stakeholders (stakeholder needs and expectations)
* Available data and evidence (data and evidence)
* Existing frameworks and models (frameworks and models)
The specific sources and methods for gathering evaluation criteria will vary depending on the specific context.