Program Evaluation Theory and Practice, Third Edition

Donna M. Mertens, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Educational Foundations and Research at Gallaudet University. She continues to pursue an active professional life, consulting about evaluations across the globe and, of course, writing about methodological issues and social justice. A past president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA), Dr. Mertens has received AEA’s highest honors for service to the organization and the field, as well as for her contributions to evaluation theory. In 2025, she received the inaugural TEI Social Betterment Award from The Evaluators’ Institute. She is the author of several books and is widely published in major professional journals.Jori N. Hall, PhD, is President's Distinguished Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is an award-winning author and multidisciplinary researcher. Dr. Hall has conducted evaluations in various fields with historically minoritized communities, and has taught graduate-level courses on culturally responsive evaluation, evaluation theory, and mixed methods. Guided by her extensive training and collaborative experiences, she brings a values-engaged, culture-oriented lens that contributes to responsive, rigorous, and innovative evaluation theory and practice.Amy T. Wilson, PhD, is former Director of Mill Neck International at the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, where she led a team of deaf education specialists sharing their expertise, knowledge, and technical skills with parents, educators, and professionals in economically poor countries. Previously, she was Program Director of the International Development Programs at Gallaudet University. For 20 years, Dr. Wilson engaged in international program development, conducting evaluations in various venues around the world, teaching graduate students, and training people from underserved communities.

"I will continue using Program Evaluation Theory and Practice as my go-to text for all my foundational and advanced evaluation courses. Mertens, Hall, and Wilson seamlessly integrate evaluation theory and practice in a comprehensive and accessible format. The inclusion of the transformative paradigm and social justice branch has always made this a stand-out text. The introduction of the Indigenous paradigm in the third edition is laudable. This book is essential for new, intermediate, and seasoned evaluators."--Ayesha S. Boyce, PhD, Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University"This text does a great job of providing a wide overview of program evaluation and an initial knowledge base about the most relevant topics in theory and practice. Readers who take a deep dive into this text will be ready to venture into the field under the guidance of a senior evaluator."--Dorothy Skierkowski-Foster, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island"The pedagogical features support student learning. The 'Preparing to Read' and 'Moving On' elements that bookend each chapter help to guide students through the material. My students are especially interested in the numerous and varied evaluation examples, including examples from international programs. I have not found another program evaluation text that offers this quality and diversity of international examples."--Adriana Cimetta, PhD, MPH, Director, Center for Educational Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, University of Arizona College of Education"I chose this book because of the strong, detailed chapters on paradigms and theories. The text truly helps students identify their theoretical frames for their pending research. The examples are critically important in bringing the theories and methods to life."--Juan C. Gonzales, PhD, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, The University of Texas at Austin"The strengths of this text include its readability and pedagogical features. The presentation of concepts and practices is just as comprehensive as in other evaluation texts, but the pedagogical features highlight the main concepts and move the reader along. Case study applications provide sufficient detail for integration into course activities and assignments. The book is well balanced in laying a theoretical foundation and guiding the user through the evaluation cycle with diverse applications. Students will continue to reference the resources in this text when they become practicing evaluators."--Kristin Koskey, PhD, Research Professor and Co-Director, The Methods Lab, Drexel University School of Education"This book offers a theoretically grounded introduction to program evaluation, along with practical examples. It provides insightful guidance to help prepare the reader for professional practice."--Christopher Gareis, EdD, William & Mary School of Education-

• PrefaceI. The Landscape of Evaluation1. Introduction to Evaluation: Defining Terms and Ethical Considerations2. History of Evaluation and Philosophical FrameworksII. Evaluation Paradigms, Branches, Theories, and Approaches3. The Postpositivist Paradigm and the Methods Branch4. The Pragmatic Paradigm and the Use Branch5. The Constructivist Paradigm and the Values Branch6. The Transformative Paradigm and the Social Justice Branch7. The Indigenous Paradigm and the Needs and Context BranchIII. Planning Evaluations8. Working with Stakeholders: Establishing the Context and the Evaluand9. Evaluation Purposes, Types, and Questions10. Evaluation Designs11. Data Collection Strategies and Indicators12. Stakeholders, Participants, and Sampling13. Data Analysis and InterpretationIV. Implementation in Evaluation: Communication and Utilization of Findings, Management, Meta-Evaluation, and Challenges14. Communication and Utilization of Findings15. Meta-Evaluation and Project Management16. Perennial and Emerging Challenges in EvaluationGlossaryReferencesAuthor IndexSubject IndexAbout the Authors