Promoting Cost-Inclusive Evaluation (CIE) and Expanding the Toolkit of CIE Methodologies in Order to Strengthen Professional Evaluations

Abstract Information: This year’s conference theme is focused on new and emerging perspectives in evaluation—a theme that is particularly relevant and exceedingly important at a time when social programs are experiencing severe budgets cuts, whilst experiencing increasing demand for human services. In light of these challenges, evaluators should reflect on lessons learnt and wisdom gleaned over time and reevaluate whether the traditional manner of conducting evaluations is still suited to a vastly changing environment. In short, the time is right for evaluators to start to think CIE. Moving away from the traditional way of doing things and one’s comfort zone is, however, never easy. Embracing methodologies which have traditionally been used to maximize profitability is a tough sell, since social programs have vastly different objectives. This has already been observed from negative comments received from some reviewers for scholarly publications that promote this concept. Acceptance and buy-in to change is no small task. However, those that are passionate about an issue must persevere.