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Abstract:
Purpose
This study aims to explore school evaluation use among local educational agencies and the factors affecting it.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach was adopted with semi-structured interviews. The interviewees were recruited from three
agencies that had continually performed elementary and junior high school evaluations, with an intention to use the
evaluations. In total, the interviewees included 23 administrators whose responsibilities were related to evaluation
processes and reports within the agency.
Findings
First, school evaluation findings were used by local educational agencies to understand school development, assist in
school improvement, assist in decision making, and convince external agencies to support a particular position. Second,
regarding process use, school evaluations were used by local educational agencies to understand school development
and opinions about schools, enhance professional learning, and direct school improvement. Third, the factors affecting
the use of evaluation findings included follow-up assistance, evaluator credibility, communication of evaluation reports,
responsiveness of evaluation reports, attitude toward the use of evaluation findings, and authority and resources. Finally,
the factorsaffecting process use comprised the mechanism of evaluation involvement and attitude toward evaluation
involvement.
Originality/value
Evaluation use is an indispensable part of professional evaluation. Research on evaluation use has seldom been
conducted in Taiwan. This study provides empirical evidence that assists in an understanding of evaluation use and
provides suggestions for evaluation practice and research.
Author:
Author Description:
Assistant Professor, Department of Education & Graduate Institute of Educational Policy and Administration, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
APA:
Shu-Huei Cheng(), SCHOOL EVALUATION USE AMONG LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.Contemporary Educational Research Quarterly, <a href="http://dx.doi.org/">DOI: 10.6151/CERQ.2016.2404.02</a>
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