Evaluation Use

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a cross-sectional survey on evaluation use completed by 1,140 U.S. American Evaluation Association members. This study had three foci: evaluators' current attitudes, perceptions, and experiences related to evaluation use theory and practice, how these data are similar to those reported in a previous study conducted by Preskill and Caracelli (1997), and to identify characteristics that distinguish high endorsers of use items from others in the sample. Findings suggest a fair level of agreement on several dimensions of use including stakeholder involvement, factors that influence use, and the varied roles of the evaluator. Logistic regression results indicated that external evaluators were less likely to be high item endorsers while those who reported being members of the Evaluation Use Topical Interest Group of the American Evaluation Association were more likely to be high item endorsers.