Engaging evaluation champions: strategies to build evaluation capacity and promote data-informed decision making in youth development

IF 1.5 4区社会学 Q2 SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY

Evaluation and Program Planning Pub Date : 2024-06-12 DOI:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2024.102458

Theresa N. Melton , Ashlee L. Sjogren , Jennifer P. Agans

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Youth development researchers and practitioners share an interest in ensuring that youth development programs contribute positively to youth outcomes. Engaging in evaluation and data-informed decision making (DIDM) has the potential to empower practitioners to improve and adapt programs, improving youth outcomes. Yet, not all practitioners are comfortable engaging in evaluation and/or DIDM. Engaging in partnerships and utilizing internal supporters of evaluations (or “champions”) have been identified as potential strategies to build evaluation capacity and strengthen DIDM within an organization. However, little research explores how to do so. This study engaged evaluation champions in four states to examine their experience as they partnered with practitioners within their organization. Results suggest that peer groups can be utilized to promote evaluation capacity, especially by utilizing peers that already have an interest in evaluation. Practitioner engagement can also be developed by using less academic jargon in communication, highlighting the practical value of evaluation, and building capacity slowly.

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让评估倡导者参与进来：在青年发展中培养评估能力和促进数据知情决策的战略。

青年发展研究人员和从业人员都希望确保青年发展项目对青年成果做出积极贡献。参与评估和以数据为依据的决策制定（DIDM）有可能增强从业人员改进和调整项目的能力，从而改善青少年的成果。然而，并不是所有的实践者都乐于参与评估和/或数据信息决策（DIDM）。建立合作伙伴关系和利用评估的内部支持者（或 "拥护者"）被认为是在组织内部建立评估能力和加强 DIDM 的潜在策略。然而，很少有研究探讨如何做到这一点。本研究邀请了四个州的评估支持者，考察他们与组织内的实践者合作的经验。研究结果表明，可以利用同行小组来提高评估能力，尤其是利用已经对评估感兴趣的同行。此外，还可以通过在交流中减少使用学术术语、强调评价的实用价值以及慢慢培养能力等方式来提高实践者的参与度。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Evaluation and Program Planning SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY-

CiteScore

3.10

自引率

6.20%

发文量

112

期刊介绍： Evaluation and Program Planning is based on the principle that the techniques and methods of evaluation and planning transcend the boundaries of specific fields and that relevant contributions to these areas come from people representing many different positions, intellectual traditions, and interests. In order to further the development of evaluation and planning, we publish articles from the private and public sectors in a wide range of areas: organizational development and behavior, training, planning, human resource development, health and mental, social services, mental retardation, corrections, substance abuse, and education.