ERIC Number: EJ950646
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Mar
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1098-2140
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Escaping the Dusty Shelf: Legislative Evaluation Offices' Efforts to Promote Utilization
Vanlandingham, Gary R.
American Journal of Evaluation, v32 n1 p85-97 Mar 2011
Although scholars have proposed many steps to increase evaluation use, there has been little comparative empirical study of whether researchers follow these recommendations and whether specific steps are associated with greater utilization. This study of state legislative evaluators finds that those that regularly meet with stakeholders and provide readily actionable products were considered by senior legislative staff to have more impact, as were larger offices. Legislative evaluators working in auditing organizations were viewed less favorably than those working in other units; this appears to be related to their adherence to Government Auditing Standards that prescribe organizational independence. Evaluators following these standards had less stakeholder engagement than did those working in other legislative units that adhered to research standards that stress meeting stakeholder needs. Environmental factors such as changes in party control may also play a role in how the work of evaluators is valued and used in the legislative process. (Contains 5 tables.)
Descriptors: State Legislation, Public Policy, Evaluators, Research Utilization, Decision Making, Context Effect, Social Networks, Audits (Verification), Measurement Techniques, Political Influences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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