Handbook of Research on Science Education

CHAPTER 31

Review of Science Education Program Evaluation

Frances Lawrenz

University of Minnesota

The purpose of this chapter is to review the field of science education program evaluation. To accomplish that purpose the chapter begins by defining evaluation, outlining the broad types of evaluation that can be undertaken and the philosophies that underlie the different approaches, and distinguishing evaluation from research. The chapter goes on to explicate the relationships between science education program funding and science education program evaluation through a historical approach, where the history of science education is juxtaposed with the history of evaluation and examples of the types of science education program evaluation that ...