Strategies for Managing Evaluation Anxiety: Toward a Psychology of Program Evaluation

Authors

Stewart I. Donaldson, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow
Laura E. Gooler, Claremont Graduate University
Michael Scriven, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow

Student Co-author

CGU Graduate

Document Type

Article

Department

Community and Global Health (CGU)

Publication Date

Fall 2002

Disciplines

Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation | Psychology

Abstract

Excessive evaluation anxiety (XEA) can be a destructive phenomenon in modern program evaluation. Some of the negative consequences include: Lack of access to important information and data; compliance and cooperation problems; false reporting; effects on bias and validity; and reduced utilization of evaluation findings. If left alone, XEA can lead stakeholders to behave in ways that destroy the credibility of evaluation findings and evaluators. The purpose of this paper is to examine the sources and signs of XEA in program evaluation, and to provide practicing evaluators with strategies to prevent and manage this common problem. This example of how more than technical skills are required to conduct high quality program evaluations illustrates the need for and begins a broader discussion of the psychology of evaluation.

Rights Information

© 2002 American Evaluation Association

DOI

10.1016/S1098-2140(02)00209-6

Recommended Citation

Donaldson, S. I., Gooler, L. E., & Scriven, M. (2002). Strategies for managing evaluation anxiety: Toward a psychology of program evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation, 23(3), 261-273.