University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Unit 3: Engaging stakeholders

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Evaluation standard: Utility “Persons involved in or affected by the evaluation should be identified, so that their needs can be addressed.” −The Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (1994) Source: The Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation, Inc. (1994). Summary of the standards. In The program evaluation standards (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. Retrieved January 2, 2007, from

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Core issues Who are the stakeholders in your outcome evaluation? How can they be involved? What roles can they play? How can you get them involved?

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation What are “evaluation stakeholders”? Persons involved in or affected by the evaluation. Individuals and organizations with an investment, interest, or influence (a stake) in the initiative and/or evaluation and evaluation findings. Often referred to as “evaluation users.”

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Who are your evaluation stakeholders? Those who request the evaluation or are in a position to do or decide something with the result of the evaluation  funder, manager, sponsor, partners, staff, community, policy makers Those who may be affected by the evaluation  program participants, community members, elected officials, potential participants Others?

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Stakeholders’ involvement can help you. Their perspectives can help strengthen your evaluation design. They might bring resources or influence to help carry out the evaluation and/or act upon the results of the evaluation. They are likely to gain a new appreciation and understanding of the program. They will better understand the results and will be more likely to use them.

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Whose interests are represented? Whose are not represented?

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation How do you find out who you should involve?

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Why worry about stakeholders? Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Evaluation Working Group. (n.d.). Engaging stakeholders. Retrieved August 6, 2008, from Increases chances that evaluation will be useful Improves evaluation’s credibility ClarifiesClarifies roles and responsibilities Enhances cultural competence Helps protect human subjects Helps avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest Shares power

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation “People, not organizations, use evaluation information.” −Patton, 2008, p. 66 Source: Patton, M. Q. (2008). Utilization-focused evaluation (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Roles a stakeholder can play: Member of advisory group Designing the evaluation Constructing the instrument Collecting data: conducting interviews, etc. Involvement in analysis and interpretation Advocate Raising funds Writing press releases….

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation What does “meaningful involvement” mean?

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation How can you get people to be involved? Use the personal touch. Match their interests to the evaluation’s needs. Pay attention to cultural obstacles. Be sensitive to busy schedules and competing priorities. Provide options for individuals to consider and choose from. Express the value their involvement will bring to them, to you, to the program, and to the community. ??????

University of Wisconsin - Extension, Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Tips for working with stakeholders Involve them early. Focus on a few key stakeholders. Provide options about how they might be involved. Don’t assume that those in leadership or decision- making roles are the most important or the only ones you should include. Avoid giving the impression that the evaluation will answer all their questions. Make certain you are not excluding anyone due to gender, ethnicity, or language. Throughout the evaluation, continue to see if there are new stakeholders who should be involved. Source: Hosley, C. (2005, April). Who wants to know: Tips for involving stakeholders in your program evaluation, Issue 2. Retrieved January 10, 2007, from