Evaluations are generally conducted for one or two main reasons: to find areas f

Evaluations are generally conducted for one or two main reasons: to find areas for improvement and/or to generate an assessment of overall quality or value (usually for reporting or decision-making purposes). Defining the nature of the evaluation question is key to choosing the right methodology. Further it is important to understand the meaning of merit and worth with regard to evaluations.
Merit is the “intrinsic” value of something; the term is used inter- changeably with quality.
Worth is the value of something to an individual, an organization, an institution, or a collective; the term is used interchangeably with value.
For this discussion question, you will need to refer to the “Extending Your Thinking – (Merit and Worth)” box on pages 8 & 9 of the Mertens & Wilson textbook. (I attached a copy to this forum.) You must first determine the merit and worth of each evaluand (Yoga Mat, Smartphone, Vegan cookbook and Bachelor’s degree) in relation to the provided context (on a fishing boat, on Easter Island and in a Buddhist Temple). Once complete, discuss with your peers how you view the merit and worth of each evaluand. For example, what are the merit and worth of the evaluand – Vegan cookbook? What criteria did you OR would you use to determine the cookbook’s intrinsic value. In addition, read the responses of other students and then discuss how or why individuals in this course may place more value on one particular evaluand than on another. Consider why what you may deem as valuable differs from that of the other students. Is it even possible to establish the DEFINITIVEmerit and worth of each evaluand? Discuss your responses to these questions with your peers