The ideology of progress and its relationship to evaluation theory and practice are discussed. If better living through evaluation is to occur, there must be an evaluation practice that is morally engaged, addressing the core principles and values of individuals and institutions. (SLD)

It is suggested that there are some serious problems with defining the concept of empowerment evaluation, with its underlying assumptions, and with its proposed justification. Although devolving some responsibility for evaluation is good, devolving all of it to stakeholders is bad, as is thinking that the devolution creates a new kind of…

This objection to M. Scriven's claim that the basic logic of evaluation is criterial and standards-based notes that valuing is an integral part of perception. Disciplining the synthesis process through critiques of interpretations and values and by using competing conceptual organizers is discussed. (SLD)

Advances the argument that advocacy in evaluation is inevitable when advocacy is understood as a value commitment to a particular representative ideal. The regulative ideal advanced in this article is a commitment to democratic pluralism. Three case examples illustrate these ideas. (SLD)

Reflections on the politics of program evaluation are presented. Topics discussed include policy question development and translation into evaluation questions, translation of evaluation questions into the evaluation proper, translation of evaluation findings into policy, and generation of new policy questions. (TJH)

Issues involved in empowering evaluation conducted with grass-roots organizations are discussed. One major issue centers on conflicting evaluation standards evaluators and stakeholders may have, and another is whether there is harmony between the empowerment model's goals of evaluation ownership and group advocacy. (SLD)

Developmental evaluation is proposed as a term to describe certain long-term partnering relationships with clients who are, themselves, engaged in ongoing program development. Rather than a model, developmental evaluation is a relationship founded on a shared purpose and is a way of being useful in innovative settings. (SLD)

Serious issues in empowerment evaluation are articulated to help ensure that this enthusiastically presented concept will not mislead evaluators and result in lowering the field's professional standards. Analysis and recommendations are provided for the adoption, development, and implementation of an objectivist evaluation that conforms to…

The construct "multicultural validity" is proposed as the vehicle for organizing concerns about pluralism and diversity in evaluation and as a way to reflect on the cultural boundness of evaluation. It should be conceptualized as a central dimension of validity and a viable focus of concern in evaluation theory. (SLD)

Y. S. Lincoln and E. G. Guba consider L. Sechrest's comments on their book "Fourth Generation Evaluation" as less a criticism than an attempt to demolish. D. M. Fetterman also objects to much of Sechrest's address. E. J. Posavac generally agrees with conclusions of Welch and Sternhagen. (SLD)

The author recounts how certain things have remained constant even though his work focus had changed from a concentration on human services and substance abuse to evaluating the impact of computer networks. Balancing the requirements of good methodology with the needs of decision makers remains central. (SLD)

The various arts and sciences that comprise the field of program evaluation are discussed. It is argued that emphasis on rigor and expressive content has left other aspects of evaluation unexplored. Educational evaluators need to consider what programs mean and how they contribute to understanding. (SLD)

Fostering self-determination is the defining focus of empowerment evaluation, but this type of evaluation overlaps participatory, collaborative, stakeholder-involving, and utilization-focused approaches to evaluation. It becomes critical to distinguish empowerment evaluation from other approaches as the field debates its boundaries and…

Definitions of and approaches to naturalistic evaluation are discussed. The qualitative aspects of the discipline are reviewed; and use of naturalistic evaluation in descriptions, illustrations, explications, hypothesis testing, and assessment of public spending are defined. A new paradigm for naturalistic evaluation is proposed. (TJH)

The movement away from strictly conventional evaluation practices and toward new and more responsive models of inquiry seems inescapable when one ponders the future of evaluation. A more activist-oriented and more stakeholder-oriented model of evaluation seems to be the future of the field. (SLD)