Premium
Reflections on the dilemmas of conducting environmental evaluations
Author(s) -
Preskill Hallie
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
new directions for evaluation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.374
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1534-875X
pISSN - 1097-6736
DOI - 10.1002/ev.299
Subject(s) - cognitive reframing , multidisciplinary approach , asset (computer security) , context (archaeology) , set (abstract data type) , face (sociological concept) , computer science , management science , theory of change , work (physics) , sociology , engineering ethics , psychology , social science , social psychology , economics , engineering , mechanical engineering , biology , programming language , paleontology , computer security , anthropology
The chapters in this volume set a rich context for understanding the challenges that environmental evaluators face in their everyday work. In particular, the authors highlight the need for responsive, contextual, flexible, adaptive, multidisciplinary, and mixed‐methods evaluation approaches. In this chapter, I reinforce their call and further suggest that they (1) increase their attention to developing logic models based on their theories of change, (2) continue exploring the use of complexity theory to ground their evaluations, and (3) consider reframing some evaluations to being strength‐ and asset‐based, where vibrancy, resiliency, and rebirth can be studied. Finally, in response to the authors' concern for their own development, I comment on the possibilities for evaluation capacity building and the formation of networks and communities of practice. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.