Reference no: EM133271887

Question: Formative and summative evaluation are two categories of evaluation that are relevant when planning programs. The biggest difference between formative and summative evaluations is when they are carried out. Formative evaluation is conducted during the actual operation and summative evaluation is carried out at the end of the program cycle or after a program.

The benefit of formative evaluation is that it assists in how well the program is being implemented according to its design and focuses on process objectives. Summative evaluation is designed to assess program accomplishments and instead focuses on outcome objectives (Kettner et al., 2015).

In a program that provides assistance to elderly people, the processes and outcomes would be monitored using strategies from formative and summative evaluations. Formative evaluations would involve evaluating if the program is targeting the correct population (elderly).

A summative evaluation would involve assessing if the program is meeting its goals after a year such as the number of successful consumers.