Studying Evaluation Utilization Through Simulations

Abstract
Simulation studies evaluation utilization employing communication theory as aparadigm have found that characteristics of the message sender (evaluator), the content of the message (the evaluation report), and characteristics of the receiver (evaluation audience) affect the evaluation audience's reactions. Among the independent variables examined were title and sex of evaluator, language and content of the report, and professional role and personality characteristics of the audience. Dependent measures include indices of credibility and acceptance of the recommendations.