184 - Towards a theoretical evaluation ecosystem, the power of roots.

Abstract Information: This poster proposal "Towards a theoretical ecosystem of evaluation, the power of the roots" is an important step that aims to collect different evaluative approaches arising from the contributions of leading figures in the field of evaluation. The present work is approached under a broader perspective in which trees are connected and new forms of evaluation emerge, contributing to the understanding of evaluation and its evolution. It is conceived as an open, participatory and dynamic proposal with the aim of promoting reflection among evaluation professionals in order to build in the future a tool that reflects evaluative approaches over time and gives rise to new approaches. The present proposal has been made based on the reflection made when participating in the poster presentations "From the evaluation theory tree to the evaluation theory forest? (Copenhagen)" (Flores et al., 2022) and "Towards the evaluation theory ecosystem, (Quito)" (Flores, 2022), "Towards the evaluation theory ecosystem, (Canada)" (Flores, 2023)"

Relevance Statement: In August 2022, under the guidance of our professor Juan Andrés Ligero, my colleagues Luisa García, Veronika Kubekoba, Esteban Dupré and I presented at the 14th Biennial Conference of the European Evaluation Society held in Copenhagen the poster entitled "From the Evaluation Theory Tree to the Evaluation Theory Forest? " the aim of this poster was to conduct a review of the main authors and their fit with the proposed evaluation tree included in Alkin Marvin, C. Alkin and Christin A. Christie An Evaluation Theory Tree in M. Alkin (ed.) (2013). The reflection of the Poster presentation in Copenhagen, the emergence of new ideas and questions, led me to send the proposal to the authors proposed by Alkin and invite them to add their own name on one of the branches, to draw their tree proposal and to answer some questions, plus they could add other authors they considered important for the present study. During the development of the poster presented in Canada, new contributions came from authors such as Andy Rowe, John Hatie and other important authors. In June 2023, it received the best poster award by obtaining the highest number of votes from the Canadian Evaluation Society delegates. Following the presentation in Quebec, further contributions have been received from Nicky Bowman, and I am awaiting contributions from Larry Bremner and Breynner R. Oliveira. Therefore, I consider it relevant to present the poster "Towards a theoretical ecosystem of evaluation" as it is an important step that attempts to capture the different evaluative approaches that have emerged from the authors' contributions and under a broader perspective where the trees connect and give rise to the emergence of new ways of evaluating, contributing to the understanding of evaluation and its evolution and therefore recognizing the power of the roots and our ancestors, where it is paramount to go back to the past to understand the present.