Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This examination of advances in programme evaluation looks at issues such as deconstructing illuminative evaluation and new paradigm research; programme evaluation as a conceptual practice of power; and pragmatism and evaluative enquiry for organizational learning. It acknowledges the spread of postmodern doubt to the field of programme evaluation and the contributing authors discuss the theoretical and practical challenges postmodernism presents to programme evaluators.
Table of Contents
A postmodern text on postmodernism? (L. Mabry). Evaluation with the lights out: deconstructing illuminative evaluation and new paradigm research (I. Stronach). The fleeting discernment of quality (R.E. Stake). A standards-based perspective on evaluation (D.L. Stufflebeam). Whose interests are being served? Program evaluation as a conceptual practice of power (T.A. Schwandt). Sharing power, facing ambiguity (T.A. Abma). Why won't they listen? Reflections of a formative evaluator (D. Walker). If in search of truth an evaluator? (L. McLean). Meeting the postmodern challenge: pragmatism and evaluative inquiry for organizational learning (S.L. Preskill, H. Preskill). Participatory evolution (J.C. Greene). Implicit and explicit advocacy in postmodern evaluation (L. Mabry).