Which of the following best describes formative evaluation?

Formative evaluation is primarily concerned with the improvement of instructional design and delivery throughout the training process. This type of evaluation occurs while a course or program is being developed or implemented, allowing designers and instructors to gather feedback and make adjustments as needed. The goal is to enhance the effectiveness and quality of the learning experience for participants.

In contrast to other evaluation methods, such as summative evaluation, which assesses the effectiveness of a program after its completion, formative evaluation is ongoing and focuses on the iterative process of learning and teaching. It often involves collecting data about learner engagement, instructional methods, and content relevance.

The other options reflect aspects that do not align with the core purpose of formative evaluation. Evaluation conducted after the training is complete describes summative evaluation. An emphasis solely on learner outcomes overlooks the feedback mechanism and iterative improvement focus of formative evaluation. Lastly, evaluating solely for compliance does not address the goal of enhancing instructional effectiveness and learner engagement, which is at the heart of formative evaluation.