← VCE Data Analytics U4O1

Evaluation criteria

A measurable standard used to judge a solution, linked to a requirement and written so it can be answered with evidence, such as a target, a yes/no check or a rating.

Part of: VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 89, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Understanding Digital Problems — Module 59, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — User Experiences and Interfaces — Module 65, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Prototype Data Solutions — Module 125, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Real-World Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 19, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Innovative Digital Solutions — Module 83, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Complex Digital Data Exchange Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 57

Understanding Evaluation criteria in VCE Data Analytics U4O1

What it does: The criterion directly checks whether the stated requirement has been met, so the two are linked. A 1 to 5 rating gives a number that can be recorded and compared, which makes it answerable with evidence. A criterion needs a measurable target so it can be answered with evidence. 'Quickly' is vague, but 'under 5 seconds' can be timed. Criteria are written from the requirements. They check whether the solution does what the client needed, not what someone happens to like. Efficiency criteria are about time, effort and resources used. Correct results are an effectiveness criterion. If you cannot gather evidence, such as a timing, a count, a yes/no result or a rating, you cannot judge the solution against the criterion.

Common mistakes: 'Looks good' is an opinion and cannot be measured. The target should be a measurable standard such as 'Target: 12 of 12 totals match'. The criterion must link to the requirement (filtering by year). Font appearance is unrelated. It should be 'Criterion: Year filter works'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 85–105) and word search (Modules 63–105).

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Learning
Duo
Which is a measurable evaluation criterion?
The dashboard should load quickly.The dashboard loads in under 5 seconds.
Matches
Criterion: The dashboard looks good
↓
It is vague and has no measurable target, so it cannot be answered with evidence. Fix: Rate the layout from 1 to 5, aiming for an average of 4 or more.
Applying
Meanings
Term
evaluation criterion
Meaning
A measurable standard used to judge a solution, linked to a requirement and written so it can be answered with evidence, such as a target, a yes/no check or a rating.
Practice
Requirement: Show the class average mark.
Testing
Gaps
=IF(B25,"Yes","No")
Check Answer
Spots
2Criterion: Totals match source
3Target: Looks good to the user

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Quick Questions

1. Which is a measurable evaluation criterion?
A. The dashboard should load quickly.
B. The dashboard loads in under 5 seconds. ✓
A criterion needs a measurable target so it can be answered with evidence. 'Quickly' is vague, but 'under 5 seconds' can be timed.
2. An evaluation criterion should be linked to...
A. A requirement of the solution ✓
B. The student's personal opinion of the software
Criteria are written from the requirements. They check whether the solution does what the client needed, not what someone happens to like.
3. Which criterion can be answered with a yes/no check?
A. Does the report show total sales for each region? ✓
B. Is the report good?
A yes/no criterion is specific enough that you can look at the solution and answer with evidence. 'Good' is too vague.
4. Which is an EFFICIENCY criterion?
A. The monthly report takes under 10 minutes to produce. ✓
B. The report shows the correct total for every region.
Efficiency criteria are about time, effort and resources used. Correct results are an effectiveness criterion.
5. Which is an EFFECTIVENESS criterion?
A. The file opens in less than 3 seconds.
B. All 30 sales totals match the source data. ✓
Effectiveness criteria check that the solution gives correct, complete and useful results. Opening time is about efficiency.

Match the Pairs

Criterion: Report totals match the source data (Yes/No) → A yes/no criterion that checks effectiveness by comparing the output with the source data
Criterion: Dashboard refreshes in under 5 seconds → A measurable efficiency criterion with a clear time target
A criterion is linked to a requirement so each one is judged against what the client needs → Requirement: Show sales by region | Criterion: Chart shows all 4 regions (Yes/No)
A rating scale criterion lets users give a score that can be collected as evidence → Criterion: Rate how easy the dashboard is to read from 1 to 5
Criterion: The dashboard looks good → It is vague and has no measurable target, so it cannot be answered with evidence. Fix: Rate the layout from 1 to 5, aiming for an average of 4 or more.
Criterion: Make the spreadsheet better → It is not linked to any requirement and has no target. Fix: Formulas calculate the total correctly with no errors (Yes/No).

Key Term

evaluation criterion
A measurable standard used to judge a solution, linked to a requirement and written so it can be answered with evidence, such as a target, a yes/no check or a rating.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =IF(B2<=5,"Yes","No")
Hint: Type the comparison operator meaning 'less than or equal to', so the time target of 5 seconds is met.
2. =COUNTIF(C2:C9,"Yes")
Hint: Type the function that counts how many cells in a range meet a condition, to total the yes/no checks passed.
3. =AVERAGE(D2:D9)>=4
Hint: Type the function that finds the mean of the user ratings, to compare it with the target rating.
4. IF accuracy >= 95 THEN result ← "Met" ENDIF
Hint: Type the pseudocode keyword that starts the block run when the condition is true.
5. =IF(AND(B2>=95,C2<=5),"Met","Not met")
Hint: Type the logical function that needs both the effectiveness and the efficiency criteria to be true.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Req: Chart sales by month
B Criterion: Totals match source
C Target: Looks good to the user
D Evidence: Compare with source
Line C — 'Looks good' is an opinion and cannot be measured. The target should be a measurable standard such as 'Target: 12 of 12 totals match'.
Question 2
A Req: Users can filter by year
B Criterion: Font looks nice
C Scale: Yes/No
D Evidence: Tester clicks filter
Line B — The criterion must link to the requirement (filtering by year). Font appearance is unrelated. It should be 'Criterion: Year filter works'.
Question 3
A Req: Report must run quickly
B Type: Efficiency criterion
C Criterion: Refresh time
D Target: Under 10 megabytes
Line D — Refresh time is measured in time units. Megabytes measure file size, so the target should be 'Under 10 seconds'.
Question 4
A Req: Dashboard is easy to read
B Criterion: Users rate clarity
C Scale: 1 (poor) to 5 (great)
D Target: Average of 8 out of 10
Line D — The target does not match the rating scale, which runs from 1 to 5. It should be 'Target: Average of 4 out of 5'.
Question 5
A Criterion: Check the totals
B Links to: Totals are correct
C Answer: Yes/No
Line A — 'Check the totals' is a task, not a standard. A criterion states what must be true so it can be answered with evidence: 'Totals match source'.

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