Concepts in evaluation applied to ethics consultation research.

Planning evaluative research requires a number of essential tasks. First, it is important to consider the underlying purpose of the evaluative effort. Next, research questions must be carefully defined. Specifically, evaluative research might examine questions of quality (including structure, process, and outcomes), access, or efficiency. Additional tasks include the enumeration of variables of interest, the selection of appropriate data collection techniques, and the creation of reliable and valid instruments. Finally, a study's research design should suit the goals of the investigation. The tasks outlined in this conceptual framework are all prerequisite to rigorous evaluative research.