This chapter discusses current methods of formative evaluation and suggests that these methods themselves need to be subjected to more critical research and evaluation in order to provide them with a more scientific base. Topics addressed include problems and methods associated with data gathering, evaluation designs, number of subjects available,…

The inadequacy and/or lack of evaluation procedures in the development of instructional products has been well documented. To help remedy this situation, the authors discuss and analyze research and theory in the field of formative evaluation applied to instructional development. (Author)