Pragmatic Paradigm Dre Anthes, Amanda Baird, Dan Roberts, Becky Stone

Philosophical Assumptions ●Axiology (Ethics) Value of the evaluation is how it is used and the results of that use ●Ontology (Reality) All individuals have their own unique interpretation of reality

Philosophical Assumptions ●Epistemology (Knowledge) Relationships are determined by what the evaluator deems appropriate to the study ●Methodology (Systematic Inquiry) Methods match the specific questions and purposes of the research

Questions What was your approach to the activity? How would an evaluator using the pragmatic paradigm set up an evaluation?

CIPP Evaluation Stufflebeam, Gullickson & Wingate (Housing for poor in Hawaii) Context, Input, Process, Product Overall focus should be on a process of creating information to support managerial decisions Stress importance of technical adequacy of the method as well as use of the evaluation by decision makers

Utilization-Focused Evaluation Walden & Baxter (Condom use amongst sex workers) Supports multiple ways of communicating with specific intended primary users of information Major components include discussion of potential use of the evaluation results from the very beginning of the project

Learning Organization Evaluation Sutherland (School reform in poverty areas) Evaluation is seen as an opportunity for continual improvement The client defines the evaluation purpose Evaluator’s role is to facilitate organizational inquiry

Empowerment Evaluation David Fetterman (improving clerkships for med students) Based on the premise that program participants who conduct their own evaluations will be more likely to use the findings from the evaluation This increases the likelihood that that the evaluation will continue to be utilized after the evaluator leaves

Practical Participatory Evaluation Sharma and Deepak (community based rehabilitation program in Vietnam) Stemming from empowerment evaluations More active stakeholder involvement leads to increased use of evaluation findings Focus on decision makers as users

Wrap-Up Group Activity Debrief