Typically, program evaluation agencies in the legislative branch of state government examine programs that have already been implemented. These evaluations often consider whether a program achieved the legislature's original goals or complied with statutory requirements. Program evaluations frequently determine whether executive branch agencies…

This final chapter summarizes the areas of consensus in the debate on method choice, including considering the nature of the primary evaluation questions, the nature of the phenomenon being evaluated, the constraints on the evaluation, and ethical issues. Pragmatic suggestions based on these areas as well as areas still in contention are offered.…

Over the past twenty years several topics covered in "New Directions for Evaluation" (NDE) are relevant to underrepresented groups, including cultural sensitivity; cultural competence; stakeholder-based, responsive, democratic deliberation; and participatory evaluation theories, methodologies, and practices. Also, the topic of social justice and…

Illustrative case studies support a contingency approach to mixed-method evaluation in which the evaluation team bases its selection of methods on the information to be provided, the availability of data, and the degree to which the program environment is an open or closed system. (SLD)

Case examples in the articles in this volume are analyzed in the mixed-method conceptual frameworks presented in the early chapters. The richer understanding derived from these approaches support the call to advance mixed-method inquiry beyond models and toward inquiry attributes that can be combined. (Author/SLD)

Describes how the All Stars Talent Network, a youth development program, transformed a pilot donor-acquisition project into a combined site visit and evaluation that engaged youth participants, donors, and adult volunteers in a unique community-building partnership. (SLD)

Discusses how a feminist conception of objectivity can be used to guide a needs assessment of the sexual health needs of men who have sex with men. In the example, a feminist approach was used to inform a needs assessment that involved 1,000 men. Applied criteria proposed by D. Haraway (1988): accountability, positioning, and partiality. (SLD)

Focuses on the evaluation capacity building (ECB) outreach activities of the World Bank with regard to provision of advice and assistance to individual governments. The primary story is that of the ECB lessons learned through working with a range of governments; the secondary story is how ECB is becoming a recognized and valued activity within the…

Describes a state agency's approach to developing and improving the self-assessment and accountability of local programs overseen and funded by a large statewide program. This self-assessment approach to evaluating local tobacco control programs in California is "empowerment evaluation" in action. (SLD)

Reviewed general outcome indicators using a conceptual framework from the program evaluation literature to summarize findings and issues from the domain of welfare policy in the United States. The review illustrates the new knowledge gained about the effects of requiring work and suggests questions that must be answered. (SLD)

The six chapters of this theme issue present participatory evaluation as a viable and creative addition to contemporary evaluation practice. Practical and transformative participatory evaluation streams are identified, and participatory evaluation is illustrated through case studies. (SLD)

Findings from empirical research on evaluation ethics indicate an apparent lack of consensus within the field concerning what constitutes an ethical issue, the frequent occurrence of problems in the later stages of evaluation projects, and the perceived ethical significance of the tendency of evaluators to be more responsive to some stakeholders…

Senior staff members at a family foundation share their perspectives, as managers and practitioners, on the ethical challenges and opportunities facing professionals engaged in the evaluation of comprehensive, community-based initiatives and other nontraditional program strategies. (Author/SLD)

Implications of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 are discussed for evaluation involvement. Studies testing the theory underlying the act, that planning and performance measurement will improve program management and effectiveness, are described. Experiences of several federal agencies suggest that this underlying theory may be…

Explores how evaluation leads to transformative learning in organizations and addresses the increased use of evaluation processes and findings and evaluators' roles and practices. Also describes the theories underlying constructivist and transformative learning. (SLD)