The Expanding Scope of Evaluation Use: New Directions for Evaluation

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This issue offers the latest thinking on the critical topic of evaluation use, including a new integrated theory of influence, a range of perspectives on evaluation use as learning, a discussion of a project combining different types of use, and more. The contributors detail a comprehensive theory of influence that provides a conceptual framework encompassing both process and results-based use, intended and unintended use, and episodic and instrumental use. They discuss evaluation use as a means for different types of individual, team and organizational learning, and analyze a case study of evaluation at a national, multi-site organization that combined process and results-based use. The issue also presents a critique arguing for social betterment, not use, as the goal of evaluation, and discusses certain key events that have influenced the direction of evaluation.This is the 88th issue of the quarterly journal New Directions for Evaluation.

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VALERIE J. CARACELLI is senior social science analyst in the Center for Evaluation Methods and Issues at the U.S. General Accounting Office. She serves as chair for the Topical Interest Group on Evaluation Use. HALLIE PRESKILL is professor of organizational learning and instructional technologies in the College of Education at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Her research and consulting work focus on developing evaluation learning communities.