Evaluation Ethics for Best Practice

Michael Morris is Professor of Psychology at the University of New Haven, where he directs the Master's Program in Community Psychology. He served as the first editor of the Ethical Challenges section of the American Journal of Evaluation from 1998 to 2004. His publications have appeared in Evaluation Review, Evaluation and Program Planning, the American Journal of Community Psychology, and the Journal of Community of Psychology, among others. He coedited, with Jody Fitzpatrick, the New Directions for Evaluation volume devoted to Current and Emerging Ethical Challenges in Evaluation (1999). Dr. Morris is a member of the Editorial Advisory Boards of New Directions for Evaluation and the American Journal of Evaluation and has served as Chair of the Ethics Committee and the Public Affairs Committee of the American Evaluation Association. His other books include Poverty and Public Policy (with John Williamson) and Myths about the Powerless (with M. Brinton Lykes, Ramsay Liem, and Ali Banuazizi). A trainer in evaluation ethics throughout the United States and abroad, he received his PhD in community-social psychology from Boston College.

• 1. Ethics and Evaluation 2. The Entry/Contracting Stage Scenario 1: The Coordination ProjectCommentary: Consumers, Culture, and Validity, Karen E. KirkhartCommentary: Whose Evaluation Is It, Anyway?, David M. ChavisWhat If...?Final Thoughts: The Coordination ProjectScenario 2: Just Say No?Questions to Consider3. Designing the EvaluationScenario 1: The Damp Parade?Commentary: Everybody Talks about the Weather..., Melvin M. MarkCommentary: No Rain Today, Gail V. BarringtonWhat If...?Final Thoughts: The Damp Parade Scenario 2: What’s under the Rock?Questions to Consider4. Data Collection Scenario 1: The FolderCommentary: Hold ’Em or Fold(er) ’Em?: What’s an Evaluator to Do?, Michael HendricksCommentary: Centering the Folder, sarita davisWhat If…..?Final Thoughts: The FolderScenario 2: HideoutQuestions to Consider5. Data Analysis and Interpretation Scenario 1: Knock, Knock, What’s There?Commentary: What’s There: Confidence or Competence?, Leslie J. CooksyCommentary: Interpreting Effects, William R. ShadishWhat If...?Final Thoughts: Knock, Knock, What’s There?Scenario 2: Things HappenQuestions to Consider6. Communication of Results Scenario 1: MainstreamCommentary: Mainstreaming Process Evaluation: Ethical Issues in Reporting Interim Results, Mary Ann ScheirerCommentary: Reporting Bad News: Challenges and Opportunities in an Ethical Dilemma, Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar and Lucía Orellana-DamacelaWhat If...?Final Thoughts: MainstreamScenario 2: Whose Voices?Questions to Consider7. Utilization of ResultsScenario 1: Nightly NewsCommentary: Fixing the Spin on Evaluation, Laura C. LevitonCommentary: From Substance Abuse to Evaluation Misuse: Is There a Way Out?, Sharon F. RallisWhat If...?Final Thoughts: Nightly NewsScenario 2: Is My Job Done Yet?Questions to Consider8. Lessons Learned Appendix A. The Guiding Principles for Evaluators Appendix B. The Program Evaluation Standards, Second Edition

A thoughtful, thorough approach. The book is well written, covers very important topics in the area of evaluation and assessment, and uses a creative approach to identify salient ethical issues in evaluation. Each chapter can stand alone, and some or all of them would be a wonderful supplement to a text for a course on evaluation.--John H. Schuh, Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Iowa State UniversityI really like the author's approach. Probably the most powerful aspect is the concrete, real-life scenarios that bring the subject matter to life. I can't say enough about how much is to be gained from this approach. I think the scenario exercises are a real stroke of genius, in that they allow the student to anticipate and to think ahead about what to do.--Geni Cowan, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, California State University, SacramentoThis book is a great introduction to ethical dilemmas faced not only by evaluators, but also by their client organizations. The beauty of it is that it provides an opportunity to work out the different facets of how we do our work. Beyond the nuts and bolts of what to do, this book makes us think about how we do it. It encourages us to think it through and make decisions that support the integrity of evaluation.--Geni Cowan, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, California State University, Sacramento This book is a great way for students to learn the complexities of evaluation ethics in real-world settings! Realistic case studies with responses by different evaluators--both academics and practitioners--illustrate ethical dilemmas that can arise at every stage of the evaluation, and show how even experienced evaluators differ in the approaches and actions they take in each case. Other cases, without responses, give students the opportunity to practice their own skills.--Jody L. Fitzpatrick, coauthor of Program Evaluation: Alternative Approaches and Practical Guidelines; Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado at DenverAs evaluation practitioners know all too well, evaluation is a highly political activity. As such, it is fraught with ethical dilemmas. Morris and his colleagues are to be congratulated for providing the field with a comprehensive, thought-provoking, highly practical, and very useable book on the topic of evaluation ethics. The book’s organization takes us through the stages of evaluation practice, providing concise and relevant case scenarios that have few simple answers, yet lend critical insights into what one might do in a given situation. Particularly helpful are the guiding and 'What If' questions, which are excellent tools to facilitate conversations with students, colleagues, and evaluation clients. This book should be on every evaluator's bookshelf.--Hallie Preskill, School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences, Claremont Graduate University; 2007 President, American Evaluation Association Morris has enlisted a seasoned cadre of evaluators to reflect on his evocatively crafted ethical dilemmas. Leaving ponderous prose behind, the contributors write in an engaging, personal style as they weigh alternative courses of action in each scenario. The result is a lively journey through evaluation's ethical landscape that is also a genuinely instructive read.--Jennifer Greene, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignThis is an exceptionally thought-provoking book for students and practitioners at all levels. It was an informative, entertaining, and engaging read. I had a hard time putting it down. Students in my introductory program evaluation class reported that the cases in the book brought the AEA's Guiding Principles to life and helped them better understand the ethical (and other types of) decision making at the heart of evaluation practice. Reflecting on these cases helped these students prepare for effective evaluation practice.--Donald B. Yarbrough, Director, Center for Evaluation and Assessment, University of IowaIn the spirit of 'Ethical Challenges,' his well-known regular feature in the American Journal of Evaluation, Morris has assembled an interesting and compelling set of challenge scenarios and responses from leading contributors to the professional knowledge base. This book is a delightful addition to the shelves of evaluation practitioners and students. Morris walks us through ethical challenges and dilemmas associated with all aspects of the process, from planning evaluations to using their results. The thematic round up of cross-cutting issues in the final chapter moves the profession forward in realistic and thoughtful ways. Bravo!--J. Bradley Cousins, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Editor, Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation-