288 - Branching Out: An Ecological Framework for Organizing Evaluation Theories

Abstract Information: Drawing on ecological principles, this paper connects the living parts of a forest to different evaluation theories. The non-living pieces of a forest ecosystem create the conditions for life to thrive. It is not to say that these elements are stagnant or inactive. Instead, the non-living elements of the evaluation forest are essential to evaluation theory and practice. The land's topography and other available resources shape the evaluation landscape, supporting specific theories and harming others. The living aspects of the evaluation forest represent evaluation theories and approaches. To connect evaluation theories to living things in a forest, I consider each theory’s connection to the non-living elements of the evaluation forest and its relationships to other theories. Applying an ecological view of a forest accounts for the connections among different evaluation theories and creates space for individual and collective evolution as theories and context change. The evaluation forest aims to fill a gap in the literature by moving away from discrete systems of organizing evaluation theories and towards a system that acknowledges deep relationships among evaluation theories and evaluative processes. The forest model accounts for the changing landscape of evaluation theories. New species will emerge to fill unknown niches, and current species will continue to adapt to meet new environmental needs. In this presentation, I will share a brief background on evaluation taxonomies, provide some insights into the limitations of traditional evaluation taxonomies, and share a new forest model of organizing evaluation theories. I will conclude by sharing the role of three evaluation theories, culturally responsive evaluation, cost studies, and utilization-focused evaluation, in the evaluation forest.