Evaluation and Ethics

Summary

Ethics is the practical study of moral choices. Ethics explores the principles we draw upon to deliberate on options; why some options seem right and others do not; the actual choice made; consequences; and personal accountability.

(Porter, 1999: ix)

Ethical issues and dilemmas arise in all forms of research, but they have a particularly critical role when it comes to evaluation. Weiss sums it up as follows:

Evaluation deals with real people in real programs, often people in serious need of help. The results of the evaluation may have real consequences for these programs and those people. Therefore, evaluation has an obligation to pay even more attention to ethical questions than most other kinds of social science research have to do.

(1998: 92)

Similarly, Robson indicates that these ‘real consequences’ relate to the political nature of the evaluation. Even a small-scale evaluation

focusing on some possible change of practice in a work setting concerns the exercise of power which can affect the working life and conditions of those involved.

(2000: 28)

Ethical and political considerations are, therefore, inextricably linked.

This chapter explores the ethical issues in evaluation by reference to case studies of student evaluations, and to guiding principles formulated by professional associations.