Program aims
There are some distance teaching programs that identify their basic aims in terms of what and whom they intend to teach. Some evaluation needs will be establish the extent to which these aims have been met. The best way to measure who the students are is to include detailed questions on the application form and store this data as part of the student record. Most institutions don’t want to make their application forms too daunting or imply that certain information such as ethnic background may influence the chances of gaining a place. So, this is more usual to collect only basic demographic information at this stage and to supplement it by means of special surveys at regular intervals.
  Once one of the program's aims is "open-ness" or an increase in social equity then particular attention must be focused on formerly disadvantaged groups, be they women, ethnic minorities, working class people or whatever. In addition to measuring their representation among the student body and looking at the progress they make on the courses, one can also look at the barriers to greater participation. This has taken the form of carrying out surveys of the general public to determine the levels of awareness and knowledge of the institution, surveys of people who sent for details but decide not to apply, and surveys of applicants who decline the offer of a place.

Policy Evaluation
In the policy area formative evaluation can take the form of market research. Prospective students’ surveys and employers can be carried out to measure the likely demand for possible new courses. Current students’ surveys can also be used to sound out opinion on various policy options. A recent study tested the reactions of students to the possibility of reduced tutorial provision on higher level courses.
Evaluation can take the form of monitoring. It was carried out regular surveys to monitor the financial impact of study on its students, thus gauging the effects of fee increases, changes in local authority assistance, the effects of its own financial assistance schemes, etc. Other survey information on the ownership of televisions, cassette recorders, home computers, etc, can assist course planning.
Study can evaluate the impact of policy changes. A recent learning showed that the new policy of "deregistering" non-progressing students actually affected a large number of its own graduates.
In conclusion, evaluation researches make take the form of experiments or pilot schemes. A policy opportunity such as the admission of school-leavers can be carried out on a trial basis and the outcome evaluated before making a final decision.

Organizational evaluation
Distance education program or institution can be evaluated in terms of its internal organization and procedures. This can involve scrutinizing the financial management and general "organization and methods". Particularly it can involve tasks such as the monitoring of tutors marking patterns and the turn-around time for assignments. Also evaluations have been conducted into the course team approach to distance course writing.