Measurement vs Evaluation: Difference and Comparison

Key Takeaways

1. Measurement involves collecting data and assigning numbers while evaluation interprets data to assess progress.
2. Measurement focuses on facts and figures while evaluation emphasizes critical judgement and analysis.
3. Measurement provides quantitative metrics while evaluation leads to qualitative judgement of worth or merit.

What is Measurement?

Measurement is putting the relevant number on objects. It is the process of assigning numbers to represent the properties of something. It expresses the quantity or size of things. We measure weight, height, temperature, intellect, etc. 

Measurement is data or information about a certain object. It standardizes to endure meaningful understanding. Measurement should be bias-free and objective for flawless interpretation and to guarantee that it uses several tools and techniques. 

As mentioned earlier, measurement can be of different variables. It can be social such as measuring crime rate, or psychological, for measuring someone’s intellect, and it can be physical attributes as well, such as measuring length, height, etc.

Measurement is the quantitative basis and can lead to proper decisions, monitoring progress, and expected outcomes. Direct observation is one of the ways to measure. Based on the nature of the measurement, the data can be quantitative or qualitative.

The data achieved with measurement is used for statistical analysis. It can answer trends, relations between different things, and much more. Collected data can provide valid judgments through evaluation. 

What is Evaluation?

Evaluation assessment of the relevance, impact, worth, efficiency, effectiveness, activities, etc. It is the process of analyzing the available data to draw the best possible conclusion. The application of evaluation can be seen in several sectors. For instance, assessing the impact of a program on the students or concluding the results of an art competition.  

Through evaluation, one can gain evidence-based information. It explores the degree to which planned results have been achieved or not. The data of evaluation can be measured using surveys, interviews, document analysis, observation skills, and other methods.

The measured data will go through an evaluation to recognize the patterns involved. The type of analysis will count on the nature of the data and research questions. Evaluation includes combining methods of both quantitative and qualitative. 

Ideally, the findings of the evaluation are presented through reports, presentations, etc. Reaching a conclusion is the objective of the evaluation. Evaluation is meant to be purely based on information and not personal opinion. It is supposed to form judgment but can not be based on judgment. The basis should be data.

Difference Between Measurement and Evaluation

1. Measurement is the process of collecting data about specific variables, while evaluation is the assessment of the worth or impact of a particular subject or program.
2. The data of measurement is quantitative or categorical, whereas the data of evaluation is quantitative and qualitative.
3. Measurement is the collection of data, and evaluation is using that collected data for the purpose of assessment. 
4. Measurement provides information, and evaluation uses that information to make judgments. 
5. Measurement is taken using different statistical techniques, while evaluation is done based on qualitative and quantitative information.
6. Height, weight, sales, records, etc., can be subjected to measurement. On the other hand, an evaluation is done of an examination or program.

Comparison Between Measurement and Evaluation

Parameter of Comparison	Measurement	Evaluation
Aim	It aims to collect data about specific variables.	It seeks to reckon the worth or impact.
Dependency	Measurement helps to evaluate.	Evaluation can not be done without measured information.
Process of analysis	It is the statistical figure of data.	It is the analysis of contextual information regarding the data.
Interpretation	It is the interpretation of objective data.	It produced subjective understanding.
Nature of Data	Its data is quantitative or categorical.	Its data is qualitative as well as quantitative.

References

1. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203521892-5/general-factors-measurement-evaluation-david-gast 
2. http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/measeval/msevlovr.html

Last Updated : 29 August, 2023