The Evaluator as a Critical Interpreter

Abstract

Evaluation research mixes administrative objectives with social scientific aims.This article distinguishes between three types of evaluation research based on the role of the evaluator. First, social engineers seek mechanisms that have objectively measurable outcomes. Second, programme promoters act as counselling resources for community developers or other stakeholders. Instead of these two traditional roles, this article considers a third type of evaluation which is based on the role of the evaluator as a critical interpreter, embodied in the sociological intervention approach. The role of the critical interpreter is illustrated by two cases where evaluation has focused on the policy of devolved responsibility combined with community-based prevention.The interventions took place in very different settings: a large-scale, long-lasting evaluation of a large and expensive policy-testing programme and an independent, voluntary and brief evaluation of small-scale, local groups. The comparison of these demonstrates that the context of evaluation determines the more specific type of a critical interpretation.