ERIC Number: EJ820358
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Dec
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0191-491X
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Available Date: N/A
What We Learned from Three Evaluations that Involved Stakeholders
King, Jean A.; Ehlert, John C.
Studies in Educational Evaluation, v34 n4 p194-200 Dec 2008
This study discusses three evaluations completed in a large suburban school district, each of which involved stakeholders purposefully throughout the inquiry process. The reflective case narrative addresses three questions: (1) To what extent or in which parts of the evaluations were stakeholders involved? (2) What actions did the evaluator(s) take to encourage stakeholder involvement? and (3) What difficulties were encountered in each evaluation, and what actions were taken to resolve them? Looking across the evaluations, four lessons emerge. First, these experiences suggest that it may be easier "not" to involve multiple stakeholders than to involve them. Second, once multiple stakeholders are actively involved, the evaluator and client must be willing to handle the complexities of logistical arrangements and the potential conflicts that may arise. Third, it takes skill to establish meaningful interactive processes and structures that can involve multiple stakeholders over time. Finally, evaluators must recognize that involving multiple stakeholders may require additional resources.
Descriptors: School Districts, Suburban Schools, Evaluators, Stakeholders, Evaluation Methods, Evaluation Problems, Participatory Research, Evaluation Research, Evaluation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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