Which data collection methods are commonly used in evaluations?

The correct answer identifies a range of data collection methods that are integral to conducting comprehensive evaluations. Surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observations each provide unique insights and contribute to a more holistic understanding of the subject being evaluated.

Surveys are structured tools that can reach a larger audience, which allows for quantitative analysis of data. Interviews provide in-depth qualitative insights, allowing evaluators to explore respondents' thoughts and feelings in detail. Focus groups facilitate discussion among participants, revealing social dynamics and collective opinions that individual interviews might miss. Observations give evaluators the ability to witness behaviors and interactions in real time, adding context to the data collected through other methods.

This combination of methods enhances the credibility and depth of the evaluation, as it draws on both qualitative and quantitative data to paint a complete picture. Acknowledging only one or two methods, as proposed in the other options, would limit the richness of the evaluation findings and could lead to biased or incomplete conclusions. Thus, option B is the most comprehensive and effective choice for data collection in evaluations.