In assessment, the term "norm-referenced evaluation" is used to describe:

The concept of "norm-referenced evaluation" is fundamentally about comparing an individual's performance to that of a specific group, often referred to as the norm group. This approach helps in understanding how a person's scores measure against the average or typical performance of others within that group.

In norm-referenced evaluations, the results provide insights into the relative standing of an individual, indicating whether they perform above, below, or at the same level as their peers. This comparison can be crucial in various contexts, such as educational assessments, psychological testing, or rehabilitation evaluations, as it helps professionals make decisions based on how a client compares to others with similar characteristics or backgrounds.

In contrast, measuring performance against a standard refers to criterion-referenced evaluations, which focus on whether an individual meets a predetermined set of criteria or benchmarks, rather than how they compare to others. Evaluating performance over time would relate more to longitudinal assessments, and assessing only knowledge-based skills would not encompass the broader range of abilities that norm-referenced evaluations can evaluate. Thus, the correct understanding of norm-referenced evaluation lies in its comparative nature.