Politics, Ethics and Professionals in Policy Evaluation
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Keywords:
Policy evaluation Professionals Ethics Politics
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Abstract
The importance of evaluation is well acknowledged in the
domain of public policy and public administration. Politics, ethics and the
roles and responsibilities of professionals are closely intermingled in the
domain of policy evaluation. However, their implications are often poorly
understood. Since the field of evaluation is expanding quite significantly,
it demands to have a substantial level of understanding about the roles
and responsibilities of professional evaluators and their interface with the
ethical and political aspects of policy evaluation. This paper, through a
content analysis, explores the various dynamics related to the roles and
responsibilities of professionals, and issues linked up with politics and
ethics of policyevaluation. Without having a careful consideration of these
aspects, the fundamental purpose of policy evaluation might be plunged
into serious tribulation. Thus, a professional evaluator must demonstrate
highest professionalism in dealing with ethics and politics.
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References
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American Evaluation Association. (n.d.) The Program Evaluation Standards. Washington D.C.: Author. [Online URL: https://www.eval.org/p/cm/ld/fid=103] accessed on 13/11/2013.
Abma, T. A. and Schwandt, T. A. (2005) The Practice and Politics of Sponsored Evaluations. In Research Methods in the Social Sciences, edited by B. Somekh and C. Lewin, pp.105-112. London: Sage.
Abma, T. A. (2006) The Practice and Politics of Responsive Evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation 27(1): 31-43.
Agopian, M. W. (1979) Politics of Evaluating Diversion Programs. Evaluation Review 3(1): 81-88.
Anderson, J. E. (1994) Public Policy Making: An Introduction, 2nd ed., Princeton, NJ: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Babbie, E. (2007) The Practice of Social Research. Belmont: Thomshon Wardsworth.
Bemberger, M. (1991) The Inherently Political Nature of Programme Evaluators and Evaluation Research. Evaluation and Program Planning 14: 325-339.
Bustelo, M. (2006) The Potential Role of Standards and Guidelines in the Development of an Evaluation Culture in Spain. Evaluation 12(4): 437–453.
Chen, H. T. (2005) Practical Programme Evaluation. Thousand. Oaks: Sage Publications.
Chelimsky, E. (1987) What Have We Learned about the Politics of Program Evaluation?. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 9(3): 199-21.
Datta, L. E. (1999) The Ethics of Evaluation Neutrality and Advocacy, New Directions for Evaluation 82: 77-88.
Dunn, W. N. (1994) Public Policy Analysis. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
Dye, T. R. (2012) Understanding Public Policy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Englert, R. M., Kean, M. H. and Scribner, J. D. (1977) Politics of Program Evaluation in Large City School Districts. Education and Urban Society 9(4): 429-450.
Guba, E. G. and Lincoln, Y. S. (1987) The Countenances of Fourth-Generation Evaluation: Description, Judgement and Negotiation. In The Politics of Programme Evaluation, edited by D. J. Palumbo, pp. 202-214. New Bury Park: Sage.
Hatry, H. P., Wholey, J. S. and Newcomer, K. E. (2004) Other Issues and Trends in Evaluation. In Handbook of Practical Programme Evaluation, edited by J. S. Wholey, H.P. Hatry and Kathryn, E. N., pp. 670-684. New Bury Park: Sage.
Holosco, M. J., Thyer, B. A. and Danner, J. E. H. (2009) Ethical Guidelines for Designing and Conducting Evaluations of Social Work Practice. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work 6: 348–360.
Howe, E. and Kaufman, J. (1983) Ethics and Professional Practice. In Value, Ethics and the Practice of Policy Analysis, edited by W. N. Dunn, pp. 9-32. Toronto: Lexington Books.
Luo, H. (2010) The Role for an Evaluator: A Fundamental Issue for Evaluation of Education and Social Programs. International Education Studies 3(2): 42-50.
McLemore, J. R. and Neumann, J. E. (1987) The Inherently Political Nature of Programme Evaluation and Evaluation Research. Evaluation and Programme Planning 10: 83-93.
Morris, M. (2008) Ethics and Evaluation. In Evaluation Ethics for Best Practice: Cases and Commentaries, edited by M. Morris, pp. 1-30. New York: The Guilford Press.
Nagel, S. S. (1983) Ethical Dilemmas in Policy Evaluation. In Values, Ethics, and the Practice of Policy Analysis, edited by W. N. Dunn, pp.65-86. Lexington: D.C Heath & Company.
Newman, D. L. and Brown, R. D. (1996) Applied Ethics for Policy Evaluation. London: Sage Publications.
O’Brien, T., et al. (2010) Unpacking the Politics of Evaluation: A Dramaturgical Analysis. Evaluation 16(4): 431–444.
Palfrey, C. and Thomas, P. (1999) Politics and Policy Evaluation. Public Policy and Administration 14(4): 58-70
Palumbo, D. J. (1985) Politics and Evaluation. In The Politics of Programme Evaluation, edited by D. J. Palumbo, pp. 12-46. New Bury Park: Sage.
Patton, M. Q. (1987) Evaluation’s Political Inherency. In The Politics of Programme Evaluation, edited by D. J. Palumbo, pp. 110-145. New Bury Park: Sage.
Patton, M. Q. (2008) Utilisation Focused Evaluation, 4th ed., Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Posavac, E. J. and Carey, R. G. (1985) Programme Evaluation: Methods and Case Studies. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
Rossi, P., Freeman, H. and Lipsey, M. (2004) Evaluation: A Systematic Approach, 7th ed., Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Scriven, M. (1969) An Introduction to Meta-Evaluation. Education Product Report 2(5): 36-38
Scriven, M. (1986) New Frontiers of Evaluation. Evaluation Practice 7(1): 7-44
Shadish, W. R. Jr., Cook, T. D. and Leviton, L. C. (1991) Foundations of Program Evaluation. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Smith, N. L. (2002) An Analysis of Ethical Challenges in Evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation, 23(2): 199-205.
Smith, M. J. (2010) Handbook of Programme Evaluation for Social Work and Health Professionals. New York: Oxford University Press.
Stake, R. E. and Trumbull, D. J. (1982) Naturalistic Generalisations. Review Journal of Philosophy and Social Science 7(1): 1-12.
Stowell, G. F. (1973) Procedure and Politics in Program Evaluation. Criminal Justice Review 1: 107-114.
Schweigert, F. J. (2007) The Priority of Justice: A Framework Approach to thics in Program Evaluation. Evaluation and Program Planning 30: 394–399.
Sieber, J. E. (1980) Being Ethical: Professional and Personal Decisions in Programme Evaluation. In Values, Ethics and Standard in Evaluation, edited by R. Perloff and E. Perloff, pp. 51-62. San Franscisco: Jossey-Bass Inc.
Taylor, D. and Balloch, S. (2005) The Politics of Evaluation: An Overview. In The Politics of Evaluation: Participation & Policy, edited by David Taylor and Susan Balloch, pp. 1-20. Bristol: The Poltiy Press.
Vedung, E. (1997). Public policy and policy evaluation. New Brunswick. Transaction Publishers
Weiss, C. H. (1978) Improving the Linkage between Social Research and Public Policy. In Knowledge and Policy:The Uncertain Connection, edited by L.E. Lynn, pp. 23-81. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences
Weiss, C. H. (1987) Where Politics and Evaluation Research Meet. In The Politics of Programme Evaluation, edited by D. J. Palumbo, pp. 47-71. New Bury Park: Sage
Weiss, C. H. (1988) If Program Decisions Hinged Only on Information: A Response to Patton. Evaluation Practice 9(3): 15-28.
Weiss, C. H. (1998) Evaluation: Methods for Studying Programs and Policies, 2nd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Weiss, C. H. (2013) Roots in Evaluation: Digging into Beliefs. In Evaluation Roots, edited by Marvin C. Alkuin, pp.130-143.Thousand Oaks: Sage.
American Evaluation Association. (n.d.) The Program Evaluation Standards. Washington D.C.: Author. [Online URL: https://www.eval.org/p/cm/ld/fid=103] accessed on 13/11/2013.
Abma, T. A. and Schwandt, T. A. (2005) The Practice and Politics of Sponsored Evaluations. In Research Methods in the Social Sciences, edited by B. Somekh and C. Lewin, pp.105-112. London: Sage.
Abma, T. A. (2006) The Practice and Politics of Responsive Evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation 27(1): 31-43.
Agopian, M. W. (1979) Politics of Evaluating Diversion Programs. Evaluation Review 3(1): 81-88.
Anderson, J. E. (1994) Public Policy Making: An Introduction, 2nd ed., Princeton, NJ: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Babbie, E. (2007) The Practice of Social Research. Belmont: Thomshon Wardsworth.
Bemberger, M. (1991) The Inherently Political Nature of Programme Evaluators and Evaluation Research. Evaluation and Program Planning 14: 325-339.
Bustelo, M. (2006) The Potential Role of Standards and Guidelines in the Development of an Evaluation Culture in Spain. Evaluation 12(4): 437–453.
Chen, H. T. (2005) Practical Programme Evaluation. Thousand. Oaks: Sage Publications.
Chelimsky, E. (1987) What Have We Learned about the Politics of Program Evaluation?. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 9(3): 199-21.
Datta, L. E. (1999) The Ethics of Evaluation Neutrality and Advocacy, New Directions for Evaluation 82: 77-88.
Dunn, W. N. (1994) Public Policy Analysis. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
Dye, T. R. (2012) Understanding Public Policy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Englert, R. M., Kean, M. H. and Scribner, J. D. (1977) Politics of Program Evaluation in Large City School Districts. Education and Urban Society 9(4): 429-450.
Guba, E. G. and Lincoln, Y. S. (1987) The Countenances of Fourth-Generation Evaluation: Description, Judgement and Negotiation. In The Politics of Programme Evaluation, edited by D. J. Palumbo, pp. 202-214. New Bury Park: Sage.
Hatry, H. P., Wholey, J. S. and Newcomer, K. E. (2004) Other Issues and Trends in Evaluation. In Handbook of Practical Programme Evaluation, edited by J. S. Wholey, H.P. Hatry and Kathryn, E. N., pp. 670-684. New Bury Park: Sage.
Holosco, M. J., Thyer, B. A. and Danner, J. E. H. (2009) Ethical Guidelines for Designing and Conducting Evaluations of Social Work Practice. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work 6: 348–360.
Howe, E. and Kaufman, J. (1983) Ethics and Professional Practice. In Value, Ethics and the Practice of Policy Analysis, edited by W. N. Dunn, pp. 9-32. Toronto: Lexington Books.
Luo, H. (2010) The Role for an Evaluator: A Fundamental Issue for Evaluation of Education and Social Programs. International Education Studies 3(2): 42-50.
McLemore, J. R. and Neumann, J. E. (1987) The Inherently Political Nature of Programme Evaluation and Evaluation Research. Evaluation and Programme Planning 10: 83-93.
Morris, M. (2008) Ethics and Evaluation. In Evaluation Ethics for Best Practice: Cases and Commentaries, edited by M. Morris, pp. 1-30. New York: The Guilford Press.
Nagel, S. S. (1983) Ethical Dilemmas in Policy Evaluation. In Values, Ethics, and the Practice of Policy Analysis, edited by W. N. Dunn, pp.65-86. Lexington: D.C Heath & Company.
Newman, D. L. and Brown, R. D. (1996) Applied Ethics for Policy Evaluation. London: Sage Publications.
O’Brien, T., et al. (2010) Unpacking the Politics of Evaluation: A Dramaturgical Analysis. Evaluation 16(4): 431–444.
Palfrey, C. and Thomas, P. (1999) Politics and Policy Evaluation. Public Policy and Administration 14(4): 58-70
Palumbo, D. J. (1985) Politics and Evaluation. In The Politics of Programme Evaluation, edited by D. J. Palumbo, pp. 12-46. New Bury Park: Sage.
Patton, M. Q. (1987) Evaluation’s Political Inherency. In The Politics of Programme Evaluation, edited by D. J. Palumbo, pp. 110-145. New Bury Park: Sage.
Patton, M. Q. (2008) Utilisation Focused Evaluation, 4th ed., Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Posavac, E. J. and Carey, R. G. (1985) Programme Evaluation: Methods and Case Studies. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
Rossi, P., Freeman, H. and Lipsey, M. (2004) Evaluation: A Systematic Approach, 7th ed., Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Scriven, M. (1969) An Introduction to Meta-Evaluation. Education Product Report 2(5): 36-38
Scriven, M. (1986) New Frontiers of Evaluation. Evaluation Practice 7(1): 7-44
Shadish, W. R. Jr., Cook, T. D. and Leviton, L. C. (1991) Foundations of Program Evaluation. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Smith, N. L. (2002) An Analysis of Ethical Challenges in Evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation, 23(2): 199-205.
Smith, M. J. (2010) Handbook of Programme Evaluation for Social Work and Health Professionals. New York: Oxford University Press.
Stake, R. E. and Trumbull, D. J. (1982) Naturalistic Generalisations. Review Journal of Philosophy and Social Science 7(1): 1-12.
Stowell, G. F. (1973) Procedure and Politics in Program Evaluation. Criminal Justice Review 1: 107-114.
Schweigert, F. J. (2007) The Priority of Justice: A Framework Approach to thics in Program Evaluation. Evaluation and Program Planning 30: 394–399.
Sieber, J. E. (1980) Being Ethical: Professional and Personal Decisions in Programme Evaluation. In Values, Ethics and Standard in Evaluation, edited by R. Perloff and E. Perloff, pp. 51-62. San Franscisco: Jossey-Bass Inc.
Taylor, D. and Balloch, S. (2005) The Politics of Evaluation: An Overview. In The Politics of Evaluation: Participation & Policy, edited by David Taylor and Susan Balloch, pp. 1-20. Bristol: The Poltiy Press.
Vedung, E. (1997). Public policy and policy evaluation. New Brunswick. Transaction Publishers
Weiss, C. H. (1978) Improving the Linkage between Social Research and Public Policy. In Knowledge and Policy:The Uncertain Connection, edited by L.E. Lynn, pp. 23-81. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences
Weiss, C. H. (1987) Where Politics and Evaluation Research Meet. In The Politics of Programme Evaluation, edited by D. J. Palumbo, pp. 47-71. New Bury Park: Sage
Weiss, C. H. (1988) If Program Decisions Hinged Only on Information: A Response to Patton. Evaluation Practice 9(3): 15-28.
Weiss, C. H. (1998) Evaluation: Methods for Studying Programs and Policies, 2nd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Weiss, C. H. (2013) Roots in Evaluation: Digging into Beliefs. In Evaluation Roots, edited by Marvin C. Alkuin, pp.130-143.Thousand Oaks: Sage.