The latest edition of this bestselling book has been completely revised and updated to
provide the most comprehensive review and integration ever done of the vast literature on
evaluation use and practice.
Table of Contents
PART ONE: TOWARD MORE USEFUL EVALUATIONS
Evaluation Use
Both Challenge and Mandate
What Is Utilization-Focused Evaluation?
How Do You Get Started?
The Personal Factor Intended Uses of Findings
Intended Process Uses
Impacts of Evaluation Thinking and Experiences
PART TWO: FOCUSING EVALUATIONS: CHOICES, OPTIONS AND DECISIONS
Being Active-Reactive-Adaptive
Evaluator Roles, Situational Responsiveness and Strategic
Contingency Thinking
Beyond the Goals Clarification Game
Focusing on Outcomes
Focusing an Evaluation
Alternatives to Goals-Based Evaluation
Implementation Evaluation
What Happened in the Program?
The Program's Theory of Action Conceptualizing
Casual Linkages
PART THREE: APPROPRIATE METHODS
Evaluations Worth Using
Utilization-Focused Methods Decisions
The Paradigms Debate and a Utilitarian Synthesis
Deciphering Data and Reporting Results Analysis, Interpretations, Judgments and
Recommendations
PART FOUR: REALITIES AND PRACTICALITIES OF UTILIZATION-FOCUSED EVALUATION
Power, Politics and Ethics
Utilization-Focused Evaluation Process and Premises
431 pages, paperback