Evaluative listening is successful when we

Evaluative listening succeeds only when several abilities combine, so no single one by itself is enough.

It requires distinguishing stimuli, inferring meaning and critically judging a message together.

Accurately separating the stimuli in a message is only the first perceptual step, not the whole task.

Inferring the meaning of a message adds understanding but still leaves out critical judgement.

Assessing the accuracy of facts alone is too narrow, ignoring inference and reasoning.

Evaluative listening weighs evidence and reasoning to judge the worth of a message.