Principles are established for reaching valid decisions as to whether evaluative judgments should be norm referenced or criterion referenced. A set of decision rules is presented, in flow chart form, to serve as a guide to the decision-making process. The use of these decision rules is illustrated for a variety of practical situations. The evaluative framework is founded upon credible principles of teaching and a precise language of curriculum and instruction. These bases include the pragmatic, conceptual, and value aspects of education. (RC)