Examining Factors Affecting Evaluation Use: A Concurrent, Qualitative Study

• Author / Creator

  Lejeune, Andrew J

• Evaluation use is an area of research with important implications for
  evaluation theory and practice. A review of the evaluation use literature reveals
  the factors that affect evaluation use provide important implications for evaluation
  practice (Burr, 2009; Cousins & Leithwood, 1986). Using a concurrent,
  phenomenological approach, the current study examined a model forwarded by
  Peck and Gorzalski (2009) within an ongoing program evaluation at two sites.
  Three findings emerged from the analysis revealing implications for evaluation
  practice and research.
  1) Conceptual and process use occurred at both sites.
  2) Evaluation factors appeared to specifically affect process use, while
  contextual factors appeared to affect use in general.
  3) Organizational receptiveness of evaluation and the evaluator’s role
  emerged as two contextual factors affecting use.
  The study also provides implications for evaluation use research, as the
  use of concurrent, qualitative methods used appear to be effective in investigating
  the factors affecting use.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Factors affecting use
  • Qualitative method
  • Concurrent method
  • Evaluation use

• Graduation date

  Spring 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Education

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3SD38

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.