Michael Quinn Patton is author of more than a dozen books on evaluation including Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods, 4th ed (2015), Blue Marble Evaluation (2020), Principles-Focused Evaluation (2018), Facilitating Evaluation (2018) and Developmental Evaluation (2011). Based in Minnesota, he was on the faculty of the University of Minnesota for 18 years and is a former president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). Michael is a recipient of the Alva and Gunnar Myrdal Evaluation Practice Award, the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Evaluation Theory Award, and the Research on Evaluation Award, all from AEA He has also received the Lester F. Ward Distinguished Contribution to Applied and Clinical Sociology Award from the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology. In 2021 he received the first Transformative Evaluator Award from EvalYouth. He is an active speaker, trainer, and workshop presenter who has conducted applied research and evaluation on a broad range of issues and has worked with organizations and programs at the international, national, state, provincial, and local levels. Michael has three children—a musician, an engineer, and an evaluator—and four grandchildren. When not evaluating, he enjoys exploring the woods and rivers of Minnesota, where he lives.

• Volume Editors’ IntroductionPrefaceAbout the AuthorPART A. THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EVALUATION FACILITATORContext: My Facilitation Experience and PerspectiveWhat Facilitators DoWhat Is Evaluation?Chapter 1. The Niche of Evaluation FacilitationFacilitating the What Is Evaluation Task ForceThe Results of FacilitationFacilitation as White-Water NavigatingEvaluation Facilitation as a Distinct Form of FacilitationFacilitation LessonsTen Resources for Explaining and Getting Started in EvaluationChapter 2. Facilitating Evaluation to Enhance UseEvaluation FacilitationEvaluation Facilitation ScenariosVariations in the Need for FacilitationBeing Active, Reactive, Interactive, and AdaptiveFacilitation LessonsFacilitation Resources for Skill Assessment and DevelopmentChapter 3. The Overarching Principle of Evaluation Facilitation: Be Utilization-FocusedWhy Use Principles-Focused Evaluation FacilitationGUIDE Dimensions of the Utilization-Focused PrincipleSummaryFacilitation LessonsAdditional ResourcesPART B. FIVE OPERATING PRINCIPLES FOR FACILITATING EVALUATIONQuick ReviewOverarching Versus Operating PrinciplesThe Evaluation Facilitation Brittle StarChapter 4. Be Guided by the Personal Factor: The First Operating PrincipleThe Personal FactorGUIDE Dimensions of the Personal Factor PrincipleEffective Practices for Facilitating EvaluationFacilitation LessonsSummaryResources for Applying the Personal Factor PrincipleChapter 5. Engage Through Options: The Second Operating PrincipleResearch on Deciding Among OptionsWhat Makes Evaluation Decision Making Challenging for StakeholdersMyriad of ChoicesGUIDE Dimensions of the Engage Through Options PrincipleFacilitation LessonsSummaryTools and Resources for Facilitating Engagement With OptionsChapter 6. Observe, Interpret, and Adapt: The Third Operating PrincipleAdopting an Observation MindsetAdapting in Real TimeAdaptive Action as a Framework for Evaluation FacilitationGUIDE Criteria for the Observe, Interpret, Adapt PrincipleFacilitation LessonsSummaryResources to Support Observation, Interpretation, and AdaptationChapter 7. Embed Evaluative Thinking Throughout: The Fourth Operating PrincipleEvaluative ThinkingGUIDE Criteria for the Evaluative Thinking PrincipleFacilitation LessonsSummaryAdditional Resources to Support Facilitating Evaluative ThinkingChapter 8. Invigorate With Leading-Edge Inputs: The Fifth Operating PrincipleFacilitating at the Leading EdgeGUIDE Criteria for the Leading-Edge PrincipleSummaryLeading-Edge Tools and ResourcesChapter 9. Principles-Focused Evaluation Facilitation: Conclusion and a Look ForwardCentral Theme of the BookIntegrating the PrinciplesIntegrating Principles in PracticeSituation Recognition and Evaluation FacilitationGraphic Recording for Evaluation FacilitationSome Issues Not Addressed in This BookThe Future of Evaluation FacilitationFinal Offering of Resources to Expand Your Evaluation Facilitation HorizonsOther Frameworks for Evaluation FacilitationReferencesIndex

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