This article explores ways in which evidence contributes to individual thought and to the formation of shared knowledge and shared decisions. It also distinguishes among sources of evidence intended to attribute causality and those designed merely to describe. It is based on data from a naturalistic study of 16 school districts. (BW)

The history of evaluation utilization in policy making and political features of program evaluation are discussed. A five-part continuum describes the evaluation process. Evaluation practice modifications contribute to real growth in evaluation use in congressional policy making as evaluation research improves the quality of information available…

This article describes the background and rationale for the Convening Process, created and evaluated by the U.S. Department of Education staff, and its relation to other efforts to increase the use of research and evaluation information. (Author/LMO)