283 - Evaluating Narratives: How to understand the sometimes-conscious influence on perceptions and behavior and provide useful formative feedback within complex interventions.

Abstract Information: Systems theory has revolutionized evaluation practice, providing a practical way for evaluators to conceptualize the interconnections between evaluands, participants, and the overall context. Narratives are the stories, beliefs and perspectives that humans use to help convert the flood of raw data within life into useful meaning. They are an important element within this complexity because they inform human perception, growth and adaptation. In short, narratives have agency – a sometimes-conscious influence that is interconnected with the agency of the program participants themselves. This session will provide practical guidance for understanding narratives and intentionally including them within evaluation designs. Come learn how to harness the power of narratives in your next evaluation!