What Works For Whom, Where, Why, For What, and When?: Using Evaluation Evidence to Take Action in Local Contexts
Document Type
Article
Department
Community and Global Health (CGU)
Publication Date
Summer 2011
Disciplines
Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation
Abstract
This chapter describes a concrete process that stakeholders can use to make predictions about the future performance of programs in local contexts. Within the field of evaluation, the discussion of validity as it relates to outcome evaluation seems to be focused largely on questions of internal validity (Did it work?) with less emphasis on external validity (Will it work?). However, recent debates about the credibility of evaluation evidence have called attention to how evaluations can inform predictions about future performance. Using this as a starting point, we expand upon the traditional framework regarding external validity that is closely associated with Donald Campbell. The result is a process for making predictions and taking action that is collaborative, systematic, feasible, and transparent.
Rights Information
© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.
DOI
10.1002/ev.362
Recommended Citation
Gargani, J., & Donaldson, S. I. (2011). What works for whom, where, why, for what, and when?: Using evaluation evidence to take action in local contexts. New Directions for Evaluation, 130, 17-30.
