Which statement distinguishes formative and summative evaluation?

• A. Formative evaluation occurs during program development to improve design; summative evaluation occurs after implementation to assess effectiveness and impact.
• B. Formative evaluation focuses on impact and outcomes at program end; summative assesses process improvements during development.
• C. Formative evaluation focuses on process and quality during development to improve design; summative focuses on outcomes after implementation.
• D. They are entirely different concepts with no relation.

Answer: (C)

Differentiating formative and summative evaluation hinges on when you evaluate and what you focus on. Formative evaluation occurs during development, focusing on the process and quality to improve the design as the program takes shape. Summative evaluation happens after implementation and concentrates on the outcomes to judge overall effectiveness. This combination—ongoing feedback to refine the design versus final results after rollout—is what clearly separates the two. Other options mix up timing or focus (outcomes vs process) in ways that don’t capture the distinct purposes of formative and summative evaluation.