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Utilization-Focused Evaluation

Utilization-Focused Evaluation

Organization: TEI
Highlights Calendar Icon Event Date: 2024-07-26

Utilization-focused evaluation is a process for helping primary intended users select the most appropriate content, model, methods, theory, and uses for their particular situation.

Situational responsiveness guides the interactive proces12s between the evaluator and primary intended users.

Psychology of use undergirds and informs utilization-focused evaluation: intended users are more likely to use evaluations if they understand and feel ownership of the evaluation process and findings; they are more likely to understand and feel ownership if they’ve been actively involved; by actively involving primary intended users, the evaluator is training users in use, preparing the groundwork for use, and reinforcing the intended utility of the evaluation every step along the way.

Participants will learn:

  • Key factors in doing useful evaluations, common barriers to use, and how to overcome those barriers.
  • Implications of focusing an evaluation on the intended use by intended users.
  • Options for evaluation design and methods based on situational responsiveness, adaptability, and creativity.
  • Ways of building evaluation into the programming process to increase use.

Recommended Text:

Patton, M. Q., & Campbell-Patton, C. E. (2022). Utilization-focused evaluation (5th ed.). Sage.

Recommended Audience:

This course is suitable for new and experienced evaluators who work closely with the primary intended users of their evaluations.