Which of the following best describes summative evaluation?

Summative evaluation is primarily concerned with assessing what participants have learned at the end of a specific period, often focusing on the outcomes of a program or course. This form of evaluation aims to measure the extent to which students have achieved their learning objectives and the effectiveness of the educational intervention. With this perspective, the emphasis lies on evaluating the overall performance regarding the intended goals, providing a clear picture of success or areas needing improvement.

The other options reference different forms of assessment: ongoing student development as reflected in formative evaluations, program improvement through data analysis, and peer feedback mechanisms, none of which capture the definitive closure and results-oriented approach that characterizes summative evaluation. Thus, the choice that highlights the assessment of participants with a focus on program outcomes aligns perfectly with the purpose of summative evaluation.