Synopsis
Evaluation is a powerful tool. It can create considerable fear, be used to decide how to allocate scarce resources, be the forerunner of bad news, or just be a means to preserve the status quo. But evaluation is always about people. It can empower the disempowered, stimulate change, and support democratic innovation and creativity. These are the elements that are emphasized in this book. Evaluation in Action will be of benefit to individuals early in their experience of evaluation, taking them and others with more experience to advanced levels. It will help them consider: methodologies and theory * a range of different approaches to framing and undertaking evaluations and how to consider which is most appropriate * issues of power, politics, and values * the choices involved in conducting evaluations and the consequences of these choices * the learning that comes from evaluations to stimulate project and organizational changes. The book encourages readers to become involved, offering examples and stimulating reflection. It is written for new and experienced evaluators, anyone commissioning evaluations, and organizations wanting to develop an evaluation strategy.
About the Author
Dr Gillian Squirrell describes her career as social sciences in action. With an academic background in social sciences and management she has worked for over 20 years in research, evaluation, training, organisational development and as a social entrepreneur. She has worked in and been contracted to universities, research and development institutes, the public sector and non-profits. She founded and was the CEO of a residential, learning and training project for offenders and substance misusers for 10 years. She has undertaken many national evaluations of social policy and programme interventions, run national consultations and researched and trained extensively in areas of programme development, evaluation, engagement and the interplay of research, policy and practice development. As an organisational consultant and manager she has been actively engaged in working with change in organisations and mediating the various challenges that changes to programme expectations and budgets can present. She works extensively with action research and action learning and systems theory. She is currently researching and developing a new vocationally geared social enterprise programme for excluded adults. More information about the author can be found at www.gilliansquirrell.net. There was high praise for Gillian Squirrell's earlier Russell House publications. The three bestselling training manuals C Becoming an Effective Trainer (1998), Developing Life Skills (1998), Developing Social Skills (1999) C were acclaimed in many published reviews, and remain both in print and in widespread use. Becoming an Effective Trainer was described as Particularly valuable... It is presented accessibly and balances theory and practice. +- Community Care. An ongoing source of reference and help. +- Youthwork. Promotes all the right messages. +- www.trainingzone.co.uk.
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