After the planning phase in an evaluation process, which phase comes next?

After the planning phase in an evaluation process, which phase comes next?

• A. Data collection
• B. Decision making based on findings
• C. Implementation
• D. Training

Answer: (A)

Data collection comes next because planning defines exactly what information you need, how you’ll gather it, from whom, and on what schedule. The planning phase sets the questions, indicators, data sources, and methods, and data collection is the execution of that plan. Without collecting data, there’s nothing concrete to analyze or interpret, so findings and informed decisions can’t be made. After data are collected, you move on to analyzing them to produce findings, and decisions are then based on those findings. Implementation or training typically follows after a decision is made about how to proceed, not during the planning or data-gathering steps.

Data collection comes next because planning defines exactly what information you need, how you’ll gather it, from whom, and on what schedule. The planning phase sets the questions, indicators, data sources, and methods, and data collection is the execution of that plan. Without collecting data, there’s nothing concrete to analyze or interpret, so findings and informed decisions can’t be made.

After data are collected, you move on to analyzing them to produce findings, and decisions are then based on those findings. Implementation or training typically follows after a decision is made about how to proceed, not during the planning or data-gathering steps.