Concern for evaluation theoretical prescriptions emerged about 40 years ago, giving it a history that is both recent enough to be part of the living experience of many of today′s theorists and old enough to afford an opportunity for an analysis of how the field has evolved over time. This book examines current evaluation theories and traces their evolution with the point of view that theories build upon theories and, therefore, evaluation theories are related to each other. Initially, all evaluation was derived from social science research methodology and accountability concerns. The way in which these evaluation `roots′ grew to form a tree helps to provide a better understanding of evaluation theory. Thus, the book uses an evaluation theory tree as its central metaphor. The authors posit that evaluation theories can be classified by the extent to which they focus on methods, uses, or valuing; these three approaches form the major limbs of the tree. In addition to the authors′ overview, which analyzes the evaluation theory tree and connections among theories, the book contains essays by most of the leading evaluation theorists. In these pieces, the evaluators comment on their own development and give their views of their placement upon the tree.
- ISBN10 0761928944
- ISBN13 9780761928942
- Publish Date 14 April 2004
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 30 May 2012
- Publish Country US
- Imprint SAGE Publications Inc
- Format Paperback
- Pages 440
- Language English