EBOOK: Purposes in Evaluation (Visual Mini Encyclopedia of Evaluation)

Before you choose methods, know why you’re evaluating.

Volume 2 of the Visual Mini Encyclopedia of Evaluation: a 28-page visual guide to defining, recognising and negotiating the purpose of any evaluation.

The problem

Most evaluations don’t fail because of the wrong method. They fail because nobody agreed on why they were doing it. The ToR says “learning”, the donor expects accountability, and the findings satisfy no one.

This guide helps you:

• Recognise the 13 evaluation purposes (accountability, merit, worth, significance, improvement, innovation, enlightenment, model building, speaking truth to power, social justice, empowerment, systems transformation, meta-evaluation)
• Spot the purpose behind any evaluation question, with a one-page recognition table
• Manage competing purposes before they blow up mid-evaluation
• Avoid the 6 classic mistakes, including copy-pasting purposes from the ToR

Inside

• 13 purpose pages, each with what it’s for, in practice and tips, all following one running real-world example
• Purposes grouped in 5 families, linked to the Periodic Table of Evaluation 2.0
• “Different stakeholders, different purposes” visual
• A take-away checklist: Why? What? Who? How? What next?

Who it’s for Evaluators, evaluation managers and commissioners, MEL officers, and anyone writing or reviewing a ToR or inception report.

Why this guide Built on the Periodic Table of Evaluation 2.0, developed with Michael Q. Patton. Visual, short, and written to be used, not just read.

“Clearly this is the era of visual communication… Sara Vaca is my expert and go-to resource.” – Michael Q. Patton

FAQ: Format (PDF, 27 pages) · Part of a series? (Yes, 14 volumes; get notified of the next) · Can’t afford it? (Use code lovingevaluation) · Refund policy.