71 - The Role of Identity in Decolonizing Evaluation Methodologies

Abstract Information: In resistance to the pervasive nature of Whiteness in evaluation, our qualitative study explores Western and non-Western methodologies. Using the Ancestral Knowledge System (AKS) conceptual framework developed by Sandoval et al. (2016), we engaged in critical introspection and connectivity throughout the research process. AKS guides research by providing “a collective third space as a decolonizing mirror that validates alternative epistemologies and incorporates spirituality and cultural intuition.” (p. 23). We created this space for participants to share personal stories and experiences that shaped their identities and to understand the implications it has on decolonizing methodologies. Interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to understand the role of identity in defining decolonizing methodologies within individual interviews and then across participants. In this roundtable, we invite participants to delve into conversations about how evaluators with varied backgrounds and experiences perceive their identities and any implications on decolonizing efforts.