title: Cybernetics: a possible solution for the "knowledge gap" between "external" and "internal" in evaluation processes.
abstract: This paper addresses the issue of the knowledge gap between evaluators and the entity being evaluated: the dilemma of the knowledge of professional evaluators vs. the in-depth knowledge of the evaluated subjects. In order to optimize evaluative outcomes, the author suggests an approach based on ideas borrowed from the science of cybernetics as a method of evaluation--one that enables in-depth perception of the evaluated field without jeopardizing a rigorous study or the evaluator's professionalism. The paper focuses on the main concepts that deal with this dilemma--showing how cybernetics combines the different bodies of knowledge of the different stakeholders, including the professional evaluator, resulting in a coherent body of knowledge created mainly by those internal to the process, owned by them, and relevant to all--those who are internal and those who are external and their different purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Education, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheve, Israel. rozalis@zahav.net.il
authors.forename: Miri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levin-Rozalis
mesh_terms: D003491:Cybernetics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007858:Learning; D008962:Models, Theoretical