"Evaluative purposes" refers to the act of assessing or judging something for the purpose of making a decision, and determining its worth, value, or effectiveness.
Full definition
The use of direct observation as a major component of an overall data collection system
for evaluative purposes may be less reliable than thought.
The two areas we will be touching on are: online data collection
for evaluative purposes and capturing ongoing «snapshots» of classroom life for value - based professional development that includes student voice as a means of reciprocal learning.
Those who know me will be tired of hearing this, but I think it's important to include in any reporting on this topic that the tests in question were not designed or validated for
that evaluative purposes; they produce unreliable results, and are not instructionally sensitive (see James Popham on that topic).