Research Versus Evaluation
Defining Research
Research is defined as an undertaking intended to extend knowledge through a disciplined inquiry or systematic investigation.
According to the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2 2022), “research is defined as an undertaking intended to extend knowledge through a disciplined inquiry or systematic investigation”. A disciplined inquiry means an “inquiry that is conducted with the expectation that the method, results, and conclusions will be able to withstand the scrutiny of the relevant research community”.
Defining Program Evaluation
Program Evaluation activities are defined as the assessments of the performance of an organization or its employees or students, within the mandate of the organization, or according to the terms and conditions of employment or training.
Evaluation is typically short for Program Evaluation. The TCPS 2 (2022) refers to Program Evaluation as “assessments of the performance of an organization or its employees or students, within the mandate of the organization, or according to the terms and conditions of employment or training”. Other activities such as “Quality Improvement” and “Quality Assurance” also share this definition in the TCPS 2 (2022).
Research requires Research Ethics Board (REB) approval, Program Evaluations do not.
As Program Evaluations are not classified as “Research” under the TCPS 2 (2022), REB approval is not required for Program Evaluations, Quality Improvement activities, and the like. However, Program Evaluations and similar non-research activities “may still raise ethical issues that would benefit from careful consideration by an individual or a body capable of providing some independent guidance, other than an REB”.