Productive dialogue is informed best by multiple and diverse voices. Five seasoned evaluators, representing a range of evaluation perspectives, offer their views in two- to three-page discussant contributions. These individuals were asked to reflect and comment on the previous chapters in the spirit of critical review as a key source of evidence…

"Theory as Method: Small Theories of Treatments," by Mark W. Lipsey, is one of the most influential and highly cited articles to appear in "New Directions for Evaluation." It articulated an approach in which methods for studying causation depend, in large part, on what is known about the theory underlying the program. Lipsey discussed the benefits…

Makes the case that responsiveness is a virtue, in evaluation as in everyday life, rather than merely a methodological tool for use in evaluation. Extends this concept using ideas from the Aristotelian tradition of practical philosophy as elaborated in recent works on hermeneutic philosophy. (SLD)

To provide another perspective on evaluation within nonformal settings, "New Directions for Evaluation" recently interviewed David Smith, the coordinator of the Professional Learning to Close the Achievement Gap program for the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, who has extensive background in education and educational research. He formerly held…

The editors give each of the theorists a chance to respond to questions posed about the context of the situation in relation to their own experience in the field, exploring how the exercise had an impact on their evaluation designs.

As is typically the case when this author sets fingers to keyboard and writes about evaluation, his intent is to offer his work and perspective as "one" African American evaluator. The impetus for the thoughts and ideas he expresses in this article were prompted by his preparation to attend and present a paper at the inaugural annual…