Michael Q. Patton and Sara Vaca have embarked on an exciting journey to curate and assemble what we now present as the Periodic Table of Evaluation Elements 2.0.
Their goal was to provide a comprehensive and navigable overview of the evaluation field, helping practitioners and enthusiasts alike make sense of its complexity and diversity.
This Periodic Table of Evaluation is both a reflection of the field’s current state and an invitation to engage with its ongoing evolution, and it acknowledges that it may not be exhaustive. It is intended to serve as:
- A resource for learning and inspiration.
- A tool for teaching and reflection.
- A framework for thinking about evaluation holistically.
The table is organized into 14 categories, encompassing a total of 188 elements, complemented by 6 perspectives and 4 quality standards (198 elements in total). These components represent the building blocks of evaluation, capturing its diverse methodologies, approaches, tools, and frameworks.
Each category highlights a specific dimension of evaluation, from foundational principles to cutting-edge innovations. Together, they offer a holistic view of what it means to evaluate effectively and thoughtfully in today’s dynamic world.
