Evaluation Roots: Theory Influencing Practice
New York; London: Guilford Press, 3rd ed. (2023), ix, 318 pp.
Contains illustrations, index
ISBN 978-1-4625-5139-2 (pbk); 978-1-4625-5140-8 (hbk)
Other editions: 1st ed. 2004, 2nd ed. 2013
"Showing how evaluation practice looks when guided by theory, the third edition of the influential "theory tree" book is significantly revised with over 80% new material, including a greater focus on equity and theories over theorists. Chapters from leading authorities describe the goals of each theory; the type of evaluation for which it is appropriate (formative, summary formative, summative, adaptive); the size of the program for which it is most applicable; specific prescriptions; and observable actions that help to define the theory. Readers are given the tools to select suitable approaches for the size, contexts and stage of an evaluation and their own personal values. New to this edition: chapters on culturally responsive evaluation, indigenous evaluation, and developmental evaluation; organized around theories rather than individual theorists; increased attention to practical applications, including a chapter distilling the goals, methods, and standards of evaluations based on each theory; and a case study chapter on the role of theory in evaluation policy." (Publisher description)
PART I. INTRODUCTION
1 Evaluation Roots: Theory to Practice / Christina A. Christie, Jennifer E. Ho, and Marvin C. Alkin, 3
2 Evaluation Theory / Marvin C. Alkin, 6
3 An Evaluation Theory Tree: A Framework for Guiding a Range of Evaluation Practice / Christina A. Christie and Marvin C. Alkin, 12
PART II. METHODS
4 Randomized Field Experiments: Advances in Practice / Robert F. Boruch and Herbert M. Turner, 55
5 Multiple Paths to Evaluation Influence and Social Betterment / Melvin M. Mark and Gary T. Henry, 67
6 Theory-Driven Evaluation Approaches: Conventional and Innovative / Huey T. Chen, 78
PART III. VALUING
7 Valuing Science: Theory as a Guide to Practice / Michael Scriven, 93
8 Responsive Evaluation / Robert E. Stake and Merel Visse, 100
9 Deliberative Democratic Evaluation: The Evaluator as Moral Fiduciary / Ernest R. House, 110
10 Values-Engaged Democratic Evaluation: Evaluation and Democracy / Jennifer C. Greene, 118
11 Culturally Responsive Evaluation: Critical and Liberatory Roots / Rodney Hopson and Vidhya Shanker, 125
12 A Transformative Lens in Evaluation: A Pathway to Transformative Change / Donna M. Mertens, 135
13 Culturally Responsive Indigenous Evaluation: An Indigenous Journey through Culturally Responsive Approaches / Fiona Cram and Jill Anne Chouinard, 145
PART IV. USE
14 Practical Policy Evaluation: Aligning Theory with Practice / Eleanor Chelimsky, 161
15 Context-Sensitive Evaluation: An Approach to Research-Based Use / Marvin C. Alkin, 173
16 The Ongoing Evolution of Utilization-Focused Evaluation: Practice Informed by Theory, Research, and Reflection / Michael Quinn Patton, 183
17 Empowerment Evaluation: It Works in Practice, but Does It Work in Theory? / David M. Fetterman, 193
18 The Curious Case of Practical Participatory Evaluation: Explorations of the Theory-Practice Relationship / J. Bradley Cousins and Hind Al Hudib, 211
19 Learning-Centered Evaluation: The Transformational Power of Evaluation Redux / Hallie Preskill, 225
20 The "Theory" of Interactive Evaluation Practice / Jean A. King, 234
21 Developmental Evaluation / Michael Quinn Patton, 243
PART V. OTHER THEORIES
22 Evaluation Theory Synopses / Alana R. Kinarsky and Emi Fujita-Conrads, 255
PART VI. CONCLUSION
23 Theory Influencing Practice / Marvin C. Alkin, Christina A. Christie, and Naomi A. Stephen, 273
24 Evaluation Policy as a Bridge between Evaluation Theory and Practice: The Office of Indian Health Services, a Case Example / Emi Fujita-Conrads, Christina A. Christie, and Elizabeth FastHorse, 292
1 Evaluation Roots: Theory to Practice / Christina A. Christie, Jennifer E. Ho, and Marvin C. Alkin, 3
2 Evaluation Theory / Marvin C. Alkin, 6
3 An Evaluation Theory Tree: A Framework for Guiding a Range of Evaluation Practice / Christina A. Christie and Marvin C. Alkin, 12
PART II. METHODS
4 Randomized Field Experiments: Advances in Practice / Robert F. Boruch and Herbert M. Turner, 55
5 Multiple Paths to Evaluation Influence and Social Betterment / Melvin M. Mark and Gary T. Henry, 67
6 Theory-Driven Evaluation Approaches: Conventional and Innovative / Huey T. Chen, 78
PART III. VALUING
7 Valuing Science: Theory as a Guide to Practice / Michael Scriven, 93
8 Responsive Evaluation / Robert E. Stake and Merel Visse, 100
9 Deliberative Democratic Evaluation: The Evaluator as Moral Fiduciary / Ernest R. House, 110
10 Values-Engaged Democratic Evaluation: Evaluation and Democracy / Jennifer C. Greene, 118
11 Culturally Responsive Evaluation: Critical and Liberatory Roots / Rodney Hopson and Vidhya Shanker, 125
12 A Transformative Lens in Evaluation: A Pathway to Transformative Change / Donna M. Mertens, 135
13 Culturally Responsive Indigenous Evaluation: An Indigenous Journey through Culturally Responsive Approaches / Fiona Cram and Jill Anne Chouinard, 145
PART IV. USE
14 Practical Policy Evaluation: Aligning Theory with Practice / Eleanor Chelimsky, 161
15 Context-Sensitive Evaluation: An Approach to Research-Based Use / Marvin C. Alkin, 173
16 The Ongoing Evolution of Utilization-Focused Evaluation: Practice Informed by Theory, Research, and Reflection / Michael Quinn Patton, 183
17 Empowerment Evaluation: It Works in Practice, but Does It Work in Theory? / David M. Fetterman, 193
18 The Curious Case of Practical Participatory Evaluation: Explorations of the Theory-Practice Relationship / J. Bradley Cousins and Hind Al Hudib, 211
19 Learning-Centered Evaluation: The Transformational Power of Evaluation Redux / Hallie Preskill, 225
20 The "Theory" of Interactive Evaluation Practice / Jean A. King, 234
21 Developmental Evaluation / Michael Quinn Patton, 243
PART V. OTHER THEORIES
22 Evaluation Theory Synopses / Alana R. Kinarsky and Emi Fujita-Conrads, 255
PART VI. CONCLUSION
23 Theory Influencing Practice / Marvin C. Alkin, Christina A. Christie, and Naomi A. Stephen, 273
24 Evaluation Policy as a Bridge between Evaluation Theory and Practice: The Office of Indian Health Services, a Case Example / Emi Fujita-Conrads, Christina A. Christie, and Elizabeth FastHorse, 292
