The guide describes how committee hearings can be used in an educational as well as a political context. A committee hearing approach can be used in education (1) when a committee suited to carry out the evaluation task already exists; (2) when a written report is likely to be ignored or to have minimal effect; (3) when the decision-maker or impacted audience is hard to define and reporting fully would require multiple reports; (4) when consensus is needed; and (5) when evaluation is taking place in a highly politicized climate, and advocates of one perspective or another are likely to dismiss its findings. Specifically discussed in this guide are the characteristics of the committee approach, how to establish a committee and conduct a hearing, examples of using committees in evaluation, special considerations and how to "wing it," and possible variations of the committee hearing. A glossary of hearing related terms is also provided. (RM)