Evaluation: What is it Really for? A Framework for Examining Issues of Evaluation Purpose and Use

Abstract

This article considers matters relating to evaluation purpose, and the dissemination and use of findings. The author discusses some of the challenges occurring in a particular health services evaluation in New Zealand and proposes an acronym framework, based on the word ACCEPTANCE (accessibility, audience, criteria, credibility, credentials, communication, ethics, purpose, politics, participants, position, timeliness, tone, attitude, appearance, numbers, critique and excellence of evaluation) to explore associated issues in the wider evaluation context.