Essentials of Utilization-Focused Evaluation
- Michael Quinn Patton - Utilization-Focused Evaluation, Saint Paul, MN
Based on Michael Quinn Patton's best-selling Utilization-Focused Evaluation, this briefer book provides an overall framework and essential checklist steps for designing and conducting evaluations that actually get used. The new material and innovative graphics present the utilization-focused evaluation process as a complex adaptive system, incorporating current understandings about systems thinking and complexity concepts. The book integrates theory and practice, is based on both research and professional experience, and offers new case examples and cartoons with Patton's signature humor.
"A well-written and interesting presentation of a complex subject."
“Essentials provides an updated and refined U-FE process that reflects the evolving nature of the evaluation field and evaluation use, addresses past criticisms, and provides a process that is more easily followed, iterative as it is...In writing this book, Patton appeared to follow the wisdom of Albert Einstein, who said, ‘Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.’ Patton has done this with Essentials of Utilization Focused Evaluation...The book offers practical exercises at the end of each chapter. These are not exercises for which one can go back and find the answer in the book, but rather applications that require a person to reflect and think. This is in keeping with the U-FE approach, which provides a framework requiring reflection, critical thinking, and flexibility in order to apply it appropriately.”
It's a great book and it complements my other eval texts. Thanks.
Excellent resource for my doctoral level students!
Sample Materials & Chapters
Introduction, Overview, and Context
Chapter 1: Assess and Build Program and Organizational Readiness