Quinn Patton, M. (1997) Utilization-Focused Evaluation, The New Century Text, Sage Publications, third edition

Comment: This is one of the most well known general evaluation texts. Patton's approach is multi-methodological and is distinctive because of its insistence on bringing all the stakeholders into the evaluation design process. It is replete with ideas, tools and case studies of evaluative practice.

Pawson, R & Tilley, N (1997) Realistic Evaluation, Sage Publications

Comment: This is an important contribution to evaluation theory from two UK evaluators. Their approach is built on realist philosophy. As they apply it to evaluation, it consists of addressing the three part dimensions in a project, programme or innovation, namely, its context, the mechanisms it uses and the outcomes it produces. This is often expressed as a CMO acronym. Its focus is the configurations or pattern of mechanisms which are operating in contexts to produce outcomes of interest. To that extent it involves recognising CMOs as explanatory models which can be assessed or tested. It has that in common with theory of change approaches to evaluation.

Evaluation - The International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, Sage Publications in association with The Tavistock Institute

Comment: This is the best international journal on Evaluation we know. We have taken a selection of articles from editions over the past 5 years that we feel may be useful in your area of work:

Madine VanderPlaat (1995) 'Beyond Technique: Issues in Evaluating for Empowerment' Vol 1(1): 81-96

John M Owen and Faye C Lambert (1995) 'Roles for Evaluation in Learning Organizations' Vol 1(2): 237-250

Nick Tilley (1996) 'Demonstration, Exemplification, Duplication and Replication in Evaluation Research' Vol 2(1): 35-50

Mansoor A F Kazi (1996) 'Single-case Evaluation in the Public Sector Using a Combination of Approaches' Vol 2(1): 85-97

Gila Garaway (1996) 'The Case-study Model: An Organizational Strategy for Cross-cultural Evaluation' Vol 2(2): 201- 211

Dermot F Murphy (1996) 'The Evaluator's Apprentices: Learning to Do Evaluation' Vol 2(3): 321-338

Michael Scriven (1996) 'The Theory behind Practical Evaluation' Vol 2(4): 393-404

Abdul Khakee (2000) 'Reading Plans as an Exercise in Evaluation' Vol 6(2): 119-136

Amanda Gregory (2000) 'Problematizing Participation: A Critical Review of Approaches to Participation in Evaluation Theory' Vol 6(2): 179-199

James S Pounder (2000) 'Evaluating the Relevance of Quality to Institutional Performance Assessment in Higher Education' Vol (6)1: 66-78

Ernest R House (2000) 'The Limits of Cost Benefit Evaluation' Vol 6(1): 79-86

Cecilia Jacobs (2000) 'The Evaluation of Educational Innovation' Vol 6(3): 261-280

Comment: The following articles all have an "evaluation in HE" flavour:

Ruth Neumann (2001) 'Disciplinary Differences and University Teaching' Studies in Higher Education Vol 26(2): 138-146

Rainie Trinczek & Anne West ((2000) 'Using Statistics and Indicators to Evaluate Universities in Europe: Aims, Fields, Problems and Recommendations' European Journal of Education Vol 34(3): 343-356

Danielle Potocki-Malet (2000) 'The Evaluation of Teaching and Learning'
European Journal of Education Vol 34(3): 299-312

Rosa Maria Bottino et al (2000) 'Activity Theory: A Framework for Design and Reporting on Research Projects Based on ICT' Education and Information Technologies Vol 4(3): 281-295

Marlene Buchy & Kathleen M Quentin (2000) 'Adapting the Scoring Matrix: A Case Study of Adapting Disciplinary Tools for Learning-Centred Evaluation' Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education Vol 25(1): 81-91

Bridget Somekh, Joanne McPake & John Hall (1999) 'Serving Multi-Stakeholders: Issues Arising from a Major National Evaluation Study' Education and Information Technonologies Vol 4(3): 263-280

Mary Henkel (1998) 'Evaluations in Higher Education: Conceptual and Epistemological Foundations' European Journal of Education Vol 33(3): 285-297