Publications

Evaluation Time

A Practical Guide for Evaluation

This accessible introductory text on program evaluation is equally at home in the classroom and in your evaluation office. It has a sound theoretical base and presents many practical examples and case studies. It stresses the role of critical and evaluative thinking, as well as self-reflection, and demonstrates the importance of context and equity in today’s turbulent environment. It offers a new stance for evaluators in response to both global and local issues.

The book is divided into four parts:

Part 1 provides an overview of the field of evaluation today, explains how evaluators think, how evaluation fits into the world of science, and how program logic, including theories of change and logic models, provides the links between cause and effect.

Part 2 examines the program life cycle and explains the uses of evaluation in early program development, during program implementation, and at the end of a program’s timeframe, when outcomes and impacts are so essential for program decision making.

Part 3 offers a chapter on each of the key evaluation methods, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Terms and processes are clearly explained, and many evaluation examples are provided, mainly in health and education.

Part 4 explores the essential topic of evaluation communication. An example of an evaluation plan is provided, and the components are explained. Communication processes and strategies both during and after an evaluation are explored. The final chapter considers the complex context in which evaluation occurs today and suggests ways to think about how evaluation interacts with global, environmental, and identity concerns.

Each chapter has useful features that enhance learning:

An engaging chapter opener
Mind maps for visual learners
Classic frameworks and new approaches
Evaluation case studies with an equity focus
Appealing graphics and useful tables
A closing interview with an evaluation expert
Student Challenges, Critical Thinking Questions, and Additional Readings and Resources

Testimonials & Reviews

“…many introductory evaluation texts miss the mark, requiring instructors to incorporate multiple references to cover introductory pedagogical and practice content. Barrington and Triana-Tremain’s creative, practical, and pedagogically friendly text rises to the challenge. The text is contemporary, comprehensive, and approachable, soundly encompassing disciplinary basics along with more nuanced and emergent perspectives of a rapidly maturing discipline. Respecting diverse audiences, this text effectively promotes evaluator social and cultural understanding and engagement. Accordingly, this text should have a leading role in preparing a new, more sophisticated generation of emergent professionals, scholars, and students on their evaluation journeys.”

“…this truly is a solid introductory text that will have a tremendous impact on the training of evaluation scholars and practitioners for many years to come.”

Gary Skolits

University of Texas, Knoxville, TN

5.0 Out of 5 stars on Amazon
Invaluable resource for evaluation professionals

“I loved the depth of material. Our firm read this book and found the resources easily applicable to new and developing work. I heard from others that they put the material directly to work as evaluation approaches. I found the material comprehensive. It is both a textbook and a wonderful reference. I suggest reading it as a class or a dedicated book club. The experience was wonderful for our team.”

Matt Feldmann

5.0 Out of 5 stars on Amazon
A Must-Have Guide for ALL Evaluators

“As a novice evaluator, I truly appreciated the thorough background research that went into the making of this book…. The authors aim to lead readers toward a heightened sense of what evaluation is, what it can do, and how evaluators can strive to make the world a better place. Mission accomplished! I always say that people generally do the best they know how to do; when they know better, they do better. To the authors of this book, thank you for helping me know better so I can do better in my own evaluation practice.”

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Kendra