Evaluation Use

In too many instances, all the hard work and insightful analyses done by evaluators end up in a report that is filed away, never to see the light of day again. To avoid this wasteful use of time and resources, evaluators should clarify up front the intended uses of an evaluation by its intended users. Working in collaboration with the stakeholders in the program to determine the most useful evaluation questions to be answered, followed by actively encouraging these stakeholders to participate throughout the evaluation process with design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, as appropriate, will promote use of the evaluation findings.

In general terms, there are three primary uses or purposes for evaluation findings (Patton, 1997):

1. Facilitating program improvements by providing valuable information to the program providers about what is working well and what needs attention while the program is being implemented
2. Making overall judgments by providing data to support making an informed decision about whether or not the program should be continued
3. Generating knowledge by providing evidence of lessons learned in relation to best program practices, offering the opportunity for enlightenment or illumination concerning the way programs are working and how outcomes can be measured, or elaborating policy options

When the evaluators and the stakeholders agree at the outset about the primary purpose and uses for the evaluation—and write these expectations into the project contract—then the likelihood of the findings' being used is significantly increased.