Utilization-Focused Evaluation

Utilization-focused evaluation is an evaluation framework developed by Michael Quinn Patton that focuses on intended use and intended users throughout development and implementation, with the premise that evaluation should be judged on the actual use of the results. Evaluations are designed and implemented in close collaboration with primary intended users (i.e., the people who will use the results), with the intent that these users feel ownership of the evaluation process and findings, therefore, increasing the likelihood that these users will employ evaluation results in decision making. This is a shift from the evaluator being the primary decision maker in the evaluation to facilitating the decision making of the intended users. This entry first reviews the characteristics of utilization-focused evaluation and then details the steps in ...