What is summative evaluation primarily used for?

Summative evaluation is primarily focused on measuring the overall effectiveness and impact of a program or event after it has taken place. This type of evaluation occurs at the end of an educational or training intervention and aims to determine whether the goals and objectives were achieved. It provides stakeholders with evidence of the outcomes and benefits derived from the educational experience, allowing them to make informed decisions about future initiatives.

By analyzing the overall results, summative evaluation helps in understanding the extent to which the program met its intended outcomes, which can be crucial for justifying funding, making improvements, or replicating successful programs in the future. This kind of evaluation contrasts with formative evaluation, which occurs during the implementation of a program and focuses on continuous improvement and development.

In contrast, the other options address different aspects of educational assessment. Assessing future educational needs relates more to planning and strategic development rather than evaluating past performance. Analyzing participant behavior during training is more aligned with formative evaluations, which seek to improve the training process itself. Ensuring compliance with organizational policies may involve various types of evaluations and audits but is not the primary focus of summative evaluation.