What is a hallmark of a reliable source in program evaluation?

• A. Self-published article
• B. Editorial from a school newsletter
• C. Peer reviewed
• D. Anonymous forum post

Answer: (C)

In program evaluation, credibility comes from sources that have been vetted by experts. A hallmark is that the work is peer reviewed, meaning other professionals in the field review the study’s design, methods, data analysis, and conclusions before publication. This process helps catch errors, biases, and overstated claims and requires clear reporting of how the evaluation was conducted, what data were used, and what the limitations are. Because of that extra layer of scrutiny, peer-reviewed articles typically offer stronger evidence to base decisions on, compared with self-published pieces, editorials from newsletters, or anonymous forum posts, which lack independent validation and detailed methodological information.