Which of the following evaluation designs might be included on the AEA Wave exam?

The inclusion of formative, summative, developmental, and utilization-focused evaluation designs in the AEA Wave exam is accurate because these categories directly relate to how evaluations are conceptualized and implemented in practice.

Formative evaluation is conducted during the development or implementation of a program, aimed at enhancing its effectiveness by providing feedback for improvement. It focuses on understanding the needs of stakeholders and refining the program accordingly.

Summative evaluation, on the other hand, takes place after program implementation and is useful for assessing the overall impact and effectiveness of a program. It helps stakeholders make informed decisions about the continuation or scaling of a program based on its success or outcomes.

Developmental evaluation supports innovation and adaptation in complex environments. It emphasizes real-time feedback and learning as programs evolve and is especially useful in situations where traditional evaluations may not adequately capture the dynamics of change.

Utilization-focused evaluation prioritizes the intended use of evaluation findings by stakeholders. It seeks to ensure that evaluations are designed and conducted in ways that will lead to practical use and actionable recommendations.

These categories encapsulate critical aspects of evaluation practice that are relevant to many evaluation scenarios, making them highly applicable for examination in a course on evaluation methods.