Utilization-Focused Evaluation

Michael Quinn Patton is author of more than a dozen books on evaluation including Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods, 4th ed (2015), Blue Marble Evaluation (2020), Principles-Focused Evaluation (2018), Facilitating Evaluation (2018) and Developmental Evaluation (2011). Based in Minnesota, he was on the faculty of the University of Minnesota for 18 years and is a former president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). Michael is a recipient of the Alva and Gunnar Myrdal Evaluation Practice Award, the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Evaluation Theory Award, and the Research on Evaluation Award, all from AEA He has also received the Lester F. Ward Distinguished Contribution to Applied and Clinical Sociology Award from the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology. In 2021 he received the first Transformative Evaluator Award from EvalYouth. He is an active speaker, trainer, and workshop presenter who has conducted applied research and evaluation on a broad range of issues and has worked with organizations and programs at the international, national, state, provincial, and local levels. Michael has three children—a musician, an engineer, and an evaluator—and four grandchildren. When not evaluating, he enjoys exploring the woods and rivers of Minnesota, where he lives. Charmagne Campbell-Patton is second-generation evaluator and twelfth generation European settler based in Mnisota Makoce. Her professional experience spans fifteen years of program design, implementation and evaluation work across a range of fields, including youth engagement, education, criminal and juvenile justice and philanthropy. She specializes in qualitative research methods and utilization-focused developmental evaluation. Charmagne holds a BA in Political Science from Grinnell College and an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University’s School of International Service. She has authored several articles and blog posts, but this is her first book. A global citizen with deep local roots, Charmagne resides near the Mississippi River on Dakota land in Minneapolis with her husband, two young children and cat.

It is the reference manual of utilization-focused evaluation, one of the main approaches to public policy evaluation. Very well organized and easy to work as a pedagogical support material.

• Part 1: What Utilization-Focused Evaluation Is and Why It Matters1. The What, Why, How, Who, Where, And When Of Utilization-Focused Evaluation2. The Essence Of Utilization-Focused Evaluation Expressed As Minimum Specifications3. Utilization-Focused Evaluative Thinking4. The High Stakes Of Evaluation Use, Nonuse And MisusePart 2: Utilization-Focused Evaluation Principles5. Guide To Utilization-Focused Evaluation Principles6. Contextualize U-Fe Operating Principle 17. Personalize U-Fe Operating Principle 28. Customize U-Fe Operating Principle 39. Align U-Fe Operating Principle 410. Prioritize U-Fe Operating Principle 511. Engage Users U-Fe Operating Principle 612. Strategize Process Use U-Fe Operating Principle 713. Adapt U-Fe Operating Principle 814. Mobilize Follow Through U-Fe Operating Principle 915. Reflect And Learn U-Fe Operating Principle 10Part 3: Review and Conclusion16. Learning Breakthroughs In Applying Utilization-Focused Evaluation Principles17. The High Stakes Of Evaluative Thinking And Reality-Testing18. Using Evaluation To Contribute To A More Equitable And Sustainable World19. Evaluation For TransformationPart 4: Review20. Utilization-Focused Evaluation For Transformation: Toward A More Thoughtful, Equitable, And Sustainable World