In today’s data-driven world, leaders across industries – whether in business, healthcare, education, government, or the nonprofit sector – need solid evidence to make informed decisions. But when it comes to gathering and analyzing information, two terms often get confused: research and evaluation.
Are they the same? Not quite.
Think of research as exploring uncharted waters – seeking answers to broad, strategic questions.
Evaluation, on the other hand, is about looking inward – assessing what’s working (or not) and why. Understanding the difference is critical for refining strategies, improving outcomes, and demonstrating impact. Let’s break it down, explore real-world applications, and show how you can leverage both to drive success in your organization.
Research vs. Evaluation: The Differences
What Is Research?
Research is about creating new knowledge. It answers big-picture questions, tests theories, and provides insights that go beyond a single company, product, or program. It follows rigorous methodologies to ensure accuracy and reliability (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).
Key Features of Research:
- Clear Exploration: Focuses on a clear question or problem during the entire research process.
- Bias Free: Data should be based on empirical evidence such as observations and experimentation.
- Structured Methodology: Follows strict protocols for validity and reliability.
- Generalizable: Findings apply beyond a single organization.
- Replicable: Results should be reproducible by using the same data and analysis methods.
- Long-Term: Studies can take months or years.
Examples Across Sectors:
- Business: A tech company researches how AI will impact future hiring trends, collecting data across industries to guide workforce planning.
- Healthcare: Medical researchers’ study whether a new drug improves patient outcomes, ensuring findings apply to diverse populations.
- Nonprofit: Global development nonprofit conducts research to understand how access to clean water impacts economic growth, informing policies worldwide.
- Education: A university researches how virtual learning affects student performance, helping institutions adapt to modern education needs.
What Is Evaluation?
Evaluation is about assessing effectiveness – measuring whether a program, strategy, or initiative is working as intended. Unlike research, which seeks universal truths, evaluation is context-specific and designed to inform decision-making (Patton, 2017).
Key Features of Evaluation:
- Action-Oriented: Helps leaders improve operations and strategy.
- Organization-Specific: Measures effectiveness within a particular business, program, or project.
- Flexible Methods: Adapts to organizational constraints.
- Shorter-Term: Conducted within business cycles or project timelines.
- Results in Practical Recommendations: Provides actionable insights for improvement.
Examples Across Sectors:
- Business: A company launches a new employee wellness program. An evaluation assesses whether it has reduced burnout and increased retention, guiding leadership on future investments.
- Healthcare: A hospital evaluates a telemedicine initiative to determine its impact on patient satisfaction and accessibility.
- Nonprofit: A local food bank evaluates its hunger relief program to see if it’s reaching the most vulnerable populations and effectively reducing food insecurity.
- Education: A school district evaluates a mentorship program to measure its impact on student graduation rates and engagement.
Research vs. Evaluation: Key Differences
|
Feature |
Research |
Evaluation |
|
Goal |
Generates new knowledge |
Assesses performance and effectiveness |
|
Scope |
Broad, seeks generalizable insights |
Specific to a program, policy or strategy |
|
Methods |
Rigid, follows academic/industry standards |
Flexible, tailored to organizational needs |
|
Timeframe |
Long-term |
Shorter-term, aligned with business cycles |
|
Outcome |
Theoretical contributions |
Practical recommendations |
When Should You Use Research vs. Evaluation?
Use Research When You Need To:
- Understand industry-wide trends (e.g., How will automation impact the workforce over the next decade?)
- Inform strategic planning (e.g., What drives consumer behavior in emerging markets?)
- Contribute to policy and industry discussions (e.g., What regulatory changes are needed for sustainable energy growth?)
Use Evaluation When You Need To:
- Measure the success of your initiatives (e.g., Did our employee engagement program improve workplace culture?)
- Optimize operations (e.g., Is our new supply chain model reducing costs and inefficiencies?)
- Justify investments and decision-making (e.g., Is our remote work policy enhancing productivity?)
So, what’s your next move?
Will you invest in research to future-proof your strategy? Or conduct an evaluation to optimize current operations? Either way, you’re on the path to stronger, smarter leadership. Contact REC to help you with your next step.
Related Posts:
6 Tips to Collect Quality Data
Demystifying Research and Evaluation
Sources:
Connel, H. & Teeter, A. (2021). Creating an evaluation design that allows for flexibility. EvaluATE. https://evalu-ate.org/blog/connell-jan21/
Defense Health Agency (DHA). (2024). Difference between research and evaluation. https://ph.health.mil/topics/healthsurv/phape/Pages/Difference-between-Research-and-Evaluation.aspx
EvalCommunity. (2023). Understanding the difference between academic research and evaluation. https://www.evalcommunity.com/career-center/what-is-the-difference-between-academic-research-and-evaluation/
Jain, N. (2023). What is research? Definition, types, methods, and process. IDEASCALE. https://ideascale.com/blog/what-is-research/#:~:text=Systematic%2520Approach:%2520Research%2520follows%2520a,to%2520ethical%2520guidelines%2520and%2520principles
Shtivelband, A. (2021). 6 Benefits of evaluation. Research Evaluation Consulting LLC. https://researchevaluationconsulting.com/6-benefits-of-evaluation/
Small, P. (2023). Four differences between research and program evaluation. Management Library. https://management.org/blogs/nonprofit-capacity-building/2012/01/08/four-differences-between-research-and-program-evaluation/
Dr. Annette Shtivelband,
I sincerely wanted to thank you for your informative blog about the differences of research and evaluation, as well as when you can use each one. I am currently in my Masters program for education at Arizona State University. When I was reading the textbook to begin learning about research and evaluation I had a basic, but still hazy understanding. As I read through your blog I appreciated the time that you took to simplify the concepts and how you presented them by explaining the key features and differences between the two. The examples throughout the blog helped me to understand that research has a longer time frame for completion and wants to contribute new knowledge, whereas evaluation has a shorter time frame and flexibly assess the effectiveness of a strategy or program for example. After reading your blog I was able to make the connection of my own experience as a teacher and how evaluation plays a daily role in my classroom, as I evaluate the students formally and with observations. I also use evaluation when I reflect upon my own practices and how they are benefiting to the success of the students. I know that research is used in academia, but I was wondering what role research plays in the field of public education, beyond the use of research based strategies. Thank you for your time and I wish you well.
Hi Amanda!
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comment! It’s great to hear that the blog helped clarify the differences between research and evaluation — and even more so that you were able to connect those ideas to your own teaching practice. That’s exactly what I hope for when I write about these topics!
You brought up a great question about how research fits into public education beyond using research-based strategies. In addition to informing classroom practices, educational research often helps us understand the bigger picture, such as what supports student engagement, how learning environments influence different outcomes, and how school or district policies impact teachers and students. It also guides professional development, curriculum design, and efforts to promote equity and inclusion across schools. One example of research in a university setting might be an Alumni Office that wants to investigate whether certain communication strategies increase the likelihood and amount that alumni donate. An evaluation example would be seeing whether a new alumni program is well-received by those participating.
In many ways, research and evaluation complement each other: research helps us build new knowledge and uncover patterns across contexts, while evaluation helps educators and administrators apply that knowledge in practical ways to strengthen programs, policies, and everyday classroom experiences.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your reflections and for the incredible work you’re doing to support your students. I wish you all the best in your master’s program and in continuing to bring curiosity and reflection into your teaching practice!