The Periodic Table of Evaluation
Is it possible to have an inventory of the Evaluation field?
Michael Q. Patton and Sara Vaca have tried!
The goal was to engage in this fascinating exercise to provide a comprehensive and accessible overview of the evaluation field, to highlight its depth, interconnectedness, complexity and diversity.
Finally, the results are here!
We have something for you
The Periodic Table 2.0
This Periodic Table of Evaluation (2025) is a collaborative effort between Michael and Sara, created as a gift to the evaluation community. From June 2024 to January 2025, we’ve poured our passion and dedication into this project, holding countless discussions and working through more than 20 versions to get it right.
Our hope is that this tool will inspire and support evaluators in their work, making complex concepts more accessible and practical for everyone. You can receive it in your inbox right now.
Also new! A glossary
The Periodic Table of Evaluation Pack includes the new expanded table (2025), the original version (2017), a detailed glossary with a short description and references for each of the 198 elements. It includes also the PowerPoint source files for easy customization.
We want this resource to be accessible to everyone interested in evaluation. If money is a barrier, you can release it for free with the code “lovingevaluation”. 🙂
The Periodic Table 1.0
You may have this one already, but here is the original table created by Sara in 2017.
It comes with a video 🙂
In this new video, Michael Patton and Sara Vaca present the expanded version of the Periodic Table of Evaluation 2.0, now featuring 14 categories and 198 elements in total.
This updated table delves deeper into organizing evaluation concepts, providing a comprehensive and user-friendly framework for practitioners.
The video focuses on explaining each category, offering insights into its significance and practical application. Sara and Michael guide viewers through the table, helping them understand how to navigate and use it effectively in their work.
Stay tuned for future installments, where they’ll explore specific elements and applications in more detail!
If you want to know more...
In this first video, Michael Patton and Sara Vaca discuss the inspiration, creation, and purpose behind Sara’s Periodic Table of Evaluation (2017). Sara shares how her drive for clarity and innovation in the evaluation field led her to conceptualize this groundbreaking tool.
The periodic table organizes evaluation elements in a visual, structured, and accessible way, making it an invaluable resource for practitioners and advancing the field’s understanding and practice.
Sara elaborates on her journey to create the table, emphasizing her passion for bringing simplicity and creativity to complex topics, and how this tool aligns with her mission to contribute meaningfully to the evaluation community.
Happy to hear your reactions
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the Periodic Table of Evaluation! Your feedback is invaluable in helping us refine and improve this tool to better serve the evaluation community. What do you find most useful? Is there anything we could enhance or add? Please share your insights with us—we’re all ears!