Full Description
Michael Quinn Patton's Facilitating Evaluation: Principles in Practice is the first book of its kind to explain in depth and detail how to facilitate evaluation processes with stakeholders. Using the author's own stories of his experiences as an evaluation facilitator, the book illustrates the five evaluation facilitation principles that are the organizing framework for addressing how to work with stakeholders to generate evaluation questions, make decisions among methods, interpret findings, and participate in all aspects of evaluation. Ultimately, this book will help readers perform facilitation to enhance the relevance, credibility, meaningfulness, and utility of evaluations.
"A must-read for anyone considering a high-impact evaluation!"
-Margaret Lombe, Boston College
Contents
Volume Editors' Introduction
Preface
About the Author
PART A. THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EVALUATION FACILITATOR
Context: My Facilitation Experience and Perspective
What Facilitators Do
What Is Evaluation?
Chapter 1. The Niche of Evaluation Facilitation
Facilitating the What Is Evaluation Task Force
The Results of Facilitation
Facilitation as White-Water Navigating
Evaluation Facilitation as a Distinct Form of Facilitation
Facilitation Lessons
Ten Resources for Explaining and Getting Started in Evaluation
Chapter 2. Facilitating Evaluation to Enhance Use
Evaluation Facilitation
Evaluation Facilitation Scenarios
Variations in the Need for Facilitation
Being Active, Reactive, Interactive, and Adaptive
Facilitation Lessons
Facilitation Resources for Skill Assessment and Development
Chapter 3. The Overarching Principle of Evaluation Facilitation: Be Utilization-Focused
Why Use Principles-Focused Evaluation Facilitation
GUIDE Dimensions of the Utilization-Focused Principle
Summary
Facilitation Lessons
Additional Resources
PART B. FIVE OPERATING PRINCIPLES FOR FACILITATING EVALUATION
Quick Review
Overarching Versus Operating Principles
The Evaluation Facilitation Brittle Star
Chapter 4. Be Guided by the Personal Factor: The First Operating Principle
The Personal Factor
GUIDE Dimensions of the Personal Factor Principle
Effective Practices for Facilitating Evaluation
Facilitation Lessons
Summary
Resources for Applying the Personal Factor Principle
Chapter 5. Engage Through Options: The Second Operating Principle
Research on Deciding Among Options
What Makes Evaluation Decision Making Challenging for Stakeholders
Myriad of Choices
GUIDE Dimensions of the Engage Through Options Principle
Facilitation Lessons
Summary
Tools and Resources for Facilitating Engagement With Options
Chapter 6. Observe, Interpret, and Adapt: The Third Operating Principle
Adopting an Observation Mindset
Adapting in Real Time
Adaptive Action as a Framework for Evaluation Facilitation
GUIDE Criteria for the Observe, Interpret, Adapt Principle
Facilitation Lessons
Summary
Resources to Support Observation, Interpretation, and Adaptation
Chapter 7. Embed Evaluative Thinking Throughout: The Fourth Operating Principle
Evaluative Thinking
GUIDE Criteria for the Evaluative Thinking Principle
Facilitation Lessons
Summary
Additional Resources to Support Facilitating Evaluative Thinking
Chapter 8. Invigorate With Leading-Edge Inputs: The Fifth Operating Principle
Facilitating at the Leading Edge
GUIDE Criteria for the Leading-Edge Principle
Summary
Leading-Edge Tools and Resources
Chapter 9. Principles-Focused Evaluation Facilitation: Conclusion and a Look Forward
Central Theme of the Book
Integrating the Principles
Integrating Principles in Practice
Situation Recognition and Evaluation Facilitation
Graphic Recording for Evaluation Facilitation
Some Issues Not Addressed in This Book
The Future of Evaluation Facilitation
Final Offering of Resources to Expand Your Evaluation Facilitation Horizons
Other Frameworks for Evaluation Facilitation
References
Index
