Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology University of Illinois, United States
In this presentation, the contributions of evaluation influence theories are examined and synthesized into one conceptual framework for conducting research on evaluation (RoE). Theories of evaluation influence encourage researchers to cultivate a holistic view in investigating an evaluation’s consequences for communities and programs. RoE scholars can construct an evaluation story by tracing an evaluation’s influence from its conceptualization to long-term consequences—i.e., the evaluation’s specific influence pathways (Mark, 2011). A storytelling metaphor is particularly valuable for research on evaluation influence because it draws attention to the setting for an evaluation’s action: its context. An evaluation’s story begins before an evaluation is planned; the context directs how evaluation unfolds and its persuasiveness (Hall, 2004). Features of the context—history, politics, language, and culture—shape an evaluator’s competence and affect the evaluation's design and process (Kirkhart, 2011). Consequently, these features substantively determine an evaluation’s story: its potential for and realization of influence. This presentation draws on RoE conducted in India to highlight the significance of context as well as methodological and values-related considerations in utilizing this framework to investigate evaluation influence (Goodnight, 2022, in press).
