Abstract Information: Evaluators wear many hats. A critical role is that of the facilitator. Facilitation is needed at every phase of the evaluation process including planning meetings, participatory logic model development, development of data collection methods, qualitative data techniques (e.g. focus groups), and results dissemination. Quality facilitation builds trust among the evaluator and our community partners. Convening effective and productive meetings sends a message of respect and can create a positive and energetic working atmosphere. During this session, we will discuss how to prepare for various types of facilitation experiences and will provide considerations for selecting facilitation modes and methods depending on the facilitation goals and group dynamics. Participants will also engage in a self-assessment process of their facilitation skills. This is an interactive session. Participants will be provided the opportunity to plan and present.
Relevance Statement: Facilitation is needed at nearly every phase of the evaluation process. Further, the role of facilitation in evaluation is becoming increasingly important as evaluations have become more complex (Gopal, 2015) and participatory (Kaufman et al., 2019). Systems evaluations (Preskill, et al., 2014) and developmental evaluation (Patton, 2010) support the evaluation of complexity, which often, by design, brings diverse partners to a single table. Evaluation capacity building (Reed, 2010), empowerment evaluation (Altman, 1997), participatory action research (Reason, 2008), and community-centered design (Meroni, 2007) among others, are rooted in bringing together diverse partners, as opposed to relying solely on the input from organizational or evaluation staff; these methods emphasize the critical role of the evaluator in this bringing together of people. Evaluation training has traditionally emphasized evaluation methodologies and ignored soft skills (Catsambas, 2016). Facilitation is a skill equally important, as good facilitation can lead to the creation of more engaged partners, who are therein, more likely to use findings for action. Limited instruction on facilitation has left evaluators to determine what skills to develop and how (Catsambas, 2016). This session will allow participants to practice their facilitation skills and test new strategies in a supportive space. Altman, D. (1997). Review of the book Empowerment Evaluation: Knowledge and tools for self- assessment and accountability. Community Psychologist, 30(4), 16-17. Retrieved from: http://www.davidfetterman.com/AltmanBookReview.htm Catsambas, T .T.(2016).Facilitating evaluation to lead meaningful change. In R.S.Fierro, A. Schwartz, & D. H. Smart (Eds.), Evaluation and Facilitation. New Directions for Evaluation, 149, 19–29. Gopal, S. (2015). Evaluating complex social initiatives. Stanford Social Innovation Review. Retrieved from: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/evaluating_complex_social_initiatives Kaner, S., Lind, L., Toldi, C., Fisk, S., & Berger, D. (2007). Facilitator’s guide to participatory decision- making. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass/Wiley. Meroni, A. (2008). Strategic design: where are we now? Reflection around the foundations of a recent discipline. Strategic Design Research Journal, 1(1), 31-38. www.unisinos.br/sdrj/. Patton, M. Q. (2010) Developmental evaluation. Applying complexity concepts to enhance innovation and use. Guilford Press, New York. Preskill, H., Gopal, S., Mack, K., Cook, J. (2014). Evaluating complexity: Proposition for Improving Practice. FSG. Retrieved from: https://www.fsg.org/publications/evaluating-complexity
