Research has suggested that evaluators vary in the extent to which they interpret the challenges they face in ethical terms. The question of what accounts for these differences was explored through a survey completed by 391 individuals listed in the database of the American Evaluation Association. The first section of the questionnaire presented…

This introduction to a special section on evaluation utilization decribes the charge presented to the commissioned authors: to clarify what is meant by evaluation utilization. The resulting papers are described as presenting a clear rejection of the term utilization and as providing substantial assistance in distinguishing between utilization and…

Highlights the important contributions of responsive evaluation's orientation to local issues and qualitative methods, but rejects responsive evaluation's relativity in favor of deliberation as a vehicle for adjudicating among competing evaluative claims. The great strength of responsive evaluation is that it helped break the intellectual…

An experiment examined combinations of evaluation report type (anecdotal, critical outcomes, utility analysis) and impact level (low, average, high) on 233 managers' interpretation of human resources scenarios. Anecdotal reports were significantly less useful. Impact level had no effect. There was no interaction between report type and impact…

Discusses four reasons why progress in evaluation in private foundations has been so slow and intermittent. These include: (1) inflated claims for the power of evaluation as a guide; (2) foundations' distance from the consequences of their actions; (3) sensitivity to hostile criticism and the difficulties of learning from legitimate criticism; and…

Linkages between utilization and stakeholder participation in the evaluation process are discussed, with emphasis on the communication of results. Data from two small-scale participatory evaluations are used to support the argument that key elements of the participatory process can be linked to meaningful and multiple forms of research…

Examines the similarities and differences between social accounting and more traditional types of evaluation as well as identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each. Presents a framework of "comprehensive evaluation" that considers program theory, input costs, research design, and outputs. (SLD)

A metamodel of evaluation utilization was developed from implicit and explicit process models and ideas developed in recent research. The model depicts evaluation use as occurring in an internal environment situated in an external environment. Background variables, international or social psychological variables, and evaluation use variables are…

Whether there can be professional reasons for turning down an evaluation contract is explored. Considering how evaluations can promote either guild maintenance interests or societal improvement interests illuminates several dilemmas in the proper conduct of evaluation and suggests the need for greater explicit attention to what it means for the…

Reviews some of the central insights from the preceding chapters of this issue as they relate to historical marker events from the past three decades that have influenced the evaluation profession and expanded notions of evaluation use. (Author/SLD)

For more than 50 years, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) has been instrumental in developing an analytical model for understanding the relationships between educational policy (the intended curriculum), classroom and instructional practices (the implemented curriculum), and educational learning…

Two physical education teachers describe use of systematic evaluation in their classes. The result has been a focus on students and using teaching to improve weaknesses. (MT)

This paper considers the setting of evaluation from the perspective of the situations and stages of problem solving in which institutional leaders might call for the assistance of evaluators. This discussion should provide evaluators with a framework to understand and adjust their interactions with the environmental context of the evaluation. R.…

A survey was sent to members of the Evaluation Use Topical Interest Group (TIG) to determine their perceptions about and experiences with evaluation use. Responses from 282 members show agreement on the major purposes of evaluation and an increased use of performance-results oriented and formative evaluations. (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…