Use of Geographic Information Systems by American Evaluation Association Members in their Professional Practice

Abstract

Background: As geographic information systems (GIS) technology continues to develop and expand in its capacity and applications, it is becoming increasingly useful to many disciplines. Even so, little has been written about the place of GIS technology in evaluation practice, and there is a paucity of information as to the extent to and applications for which evaluation practitioners use such technology. Purpose: In this investigation, the prevalence and common applications of GIS technology in professional evaluation practice are examined. Particularly, the study was designed to estimate what proportion of American Evaluation Association (AEA) members who self-identify as evaluation practitioners use GIS in their practice, if at all, and, if so, to what extent. For those who use GIS in their evaluation practice, the specific GIS software packages and applications used also are explored. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: A simple random sample of American Evaluation Association (AEA) members were surveyed, with an emphasis on evaluation practitioners. Findings: Less than less than half (41.04% ±6.09%) of AEA members who consider themselves evaluation practitioners have ever used GIS in their evaluation practice and less than one-third (31.47% ±5.75%) have received some form of training in GIS methods. Data visualization is, by far, the most frequent application of GIS in evaluation practice. Keywords: American Evaluation Association; geographic information systems; technology in evaluation; evaluation practice; research on evaluation