Process Use in Theory, Research, and Practice: New Directions for Evaluation, Number 116 (J-B PE Single Issue (Program) Evaluation) Cousins, J. Bradley

Conceptions of use are grounded within a common conception that useand influence can be traced to evaluation findings or to theknowledge outputs of evaluative activities. Yet a qualitativelydifferent type of use and impact began to emerge from evaluationpractice and research on it. This other sort of consequence --process use -- appeared to be attributable to something whollyindependent of evaluation findings, specifically, the activities orprocesses of evaluation as opposed to its products or outputs. Thisvolume is a multifacted exploration of process use; it includesmethodological, empirical, and conceptual inquiries as well as richnarrative forays into the domain of evaluation practice. Such acomprehensive approach serves to deepen understanding of processuse as being pivotal in contemporary theory on evaluationconsequences.

This is the 116th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly reportseries New Directions for Evaluation, a publication ofJossey-Bass and the American Evaluation Association. The journalpublishes empirical, methodological, and theoretical works on allaspects of evaluation.