TITLE:
Rethinking Educational Evaluation: From Fourth Generation to an Integrated Model
AUTHORS:
Zhongfeng Hu, Yifei Li, Zhenzhen Zhang, Guanghan Jia, Jiawei Li
KEYWORDS:
Fourth Generation Evaluation, Quantitative Evaluation, Qualitative Evaluation, Integrated Educational Evaluation
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.17 No.1,
January
15,
2026
ABSTRACT: Despite its widespread influence on educational evaluation reform, Fourth Generation Evaluation (FGE) has primarily been adopted without sufficient critical examination. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of this constructivist and negotiation-based model by highlighting its theoretical and practical limitations. There are classification flaws and historical gaps in the division of evaluation into generations, which creates ambiguity through the use of the term “generation” and blurs the distinction between measurement and evaluation. Moreover, FGE’s foundation in the constructivist paradigm is seen as an insufficient theoretical basis, and its overreliance on naturalism risks leading to untenable outcomes. In practice, FGE is rarely implemented in its entirety, as its procedural complexity and overly idealistic conditions often hinder its application. Given the multifaceted and complex nature of modern educational contexts, FGE is increasingly ill-suited for contemporary evaluation needs. This paper concludes by advocating for an integrated educational evaluation framework with a specific focus on process integration to reconcile the perceived divide between constructivism and positivism.