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…

Evaluation of the Humanities Education, Research, and Language Development (HERALD) Project in the San Francisco Unified School District (California), which focused on teacher empowerment, shows the value of close collaboration between external evaluators and teachers as internal evaluators. Evaluator-teacher collaboration made evaluation more…

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)

Describes how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to help evaluators convey complex information simply through a spatial representation. Demonstrates how GIS can be used to plot change over time, including impact and outcome data gathered by primary data collection. (SLD)

Explored evaluator roles and strategies that have the potential to increase the likelihood that the evaluation process will have an influence on an organization and its members. Conducted a brief case study of an evaluation work group to illustrate evaluator roles in task-focused and task-related discussions. (SLD)

Advocates the formal evaluation of university presidents as a means of promoting accountability. Suggests focusing on the presidents in the context of the institution, strengthening both the presidents' and boards' positions, providing a rational and systematic evaluation mechanism, and promoting periodic review and resetting of institutional…

Use and misuse of evaluation results are discussed. Variations in evaluation definitions, entity used, nature of the user, time and place of evaluation use, personal factor, basic premises of utilization-focused evaluation, misutilization, and method and rationales for use are discussed. A case example with a federal program is outlined. (TJH)

Steps in presenting evaluation recommendations are outlined. The steps include the following: the development of effective recommendations, the presentation of effective recommendations, and the effective following up of recommendations. (TJH)

Explores the role of critical evaluation in education reform, reviewing three contemporary perspectives on evaluation and showing how mainstream and contemporary evaluations can serve social and political values. Also considers the methodology of critical evaluation as it relates to the practice of freedom and the ways people deal with reality.…

Reviews critical dimensions in evaluation that emerge from efforts to promote use within a context of stakeholder participation. Case examples illustrate two potentially problematic domains: stakeholder selection and depth of stakeholder involvement. (Author/SLD)

The "use of evaluation" once meant the use of evaluation results for making program decisions, but there is a new awareness of the possibility of using many aspects of evaluation. This paper highlights the importance of considering additional prospective users of evaluation, including organizers, client groups, and civil society. (Author/SLD)

Examined the stages of evaluation practice and use at a national multisite community service program with an internal evaluation department. Reviews challenges to evaluation use and organizational supports for it and discusses the integrated theory of use of K. Kirkhart (2000) at both site and national levels. Summarizes lessons learned in this…

In a survey of 128 manufacturing employees, the perception that performance appraisal had developmental uses was associated with satisfaction with appraisals and appraisers. Reaction to the evaluation did not depend on the outcome of the appraisal or its perceived fairness. (SK)

Describes six inquiries in the social sciences, both old and new, that show how evaluation can be conducted and what it can achieve. Draws six lessons from these studies that should lead to an evaluation culture that is more painstaking and an evidence base that is more cumulative. (SLD)