Fourth Generation Evaluation

Fourth generation evaluation represents a monumental shift in evaluation practice. The authors of this book point to the inherent problems faced by previous generations of evaluators – politics, ethical dilemmas, fuzzy data, inconclusive conclusions – and lay the blame for failure and non-utilization at the feet of the unquestioned reliance on the scientific/positivist paradigm of research. They show how fourth generation evaluation – based on relativism and qualititative methodology – solves the persistent problems in programme evaluation. The text contains a description of the differences between the positivist and constructivist paradigms of research, and provides a practical plan of the steps and processes in conducting a fourth generation evaluation. —- ISBN: 9780803932357 | ISBN10: 0803932359 | ISBN-13: 978-0803932357