Utilization-Focused Evaluation

by Michael Quinn Patton, Charmagne E. Campbell-Patton

The Fifth Edition of the bestselling Utilization-Focused Evaluation provides expert, detailed advice on conducting evaluations that promote effective use of the findings. Chock full of useful pedagogy, this book presents Michael Quinn Patton′s distinctive opinions based on more than forty years of experience, and also the expertise of new co-author Charmagne E. Campbell-Patton. The authors begin by describing the essence of utilization-focused evaluation, and then outline 10 operating principles. They conclude with chapters focused on how evaluation can be used to promote a more thoughtful, equitable, and sustainable world. Richly illustrated with examples, figures, and cartoons, this engaging texts shows readers how to design and conduct evaluations that provide useful findings, and which contribute to a more equitable society.

Genres: Research Methods, Academic, Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1978

Reviews

[Natalia Pinzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a comprehensive overview of evaluation with both critical and conventional perspectives of the field. I highly recommend it. it’s a Surprisingly fun read, Patons humor is engaging and his reflections are thought-provoking

[Althea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is truly a 3.5 although the subject matter is a 5 for me!

A solid book regarding evaluation that desperately needs at least 100 pages edited from it. This was required reading for my Program Development course and it certainly is a treasure trove of information but at times I fell asleep trying to find said information amidst the case examples and tangential thoughts. I am pretty tangential myself (much to everyone in my classes' dismay!) yet this was a struggle for me.

Although the information is great, the organization is lacking within each chapter. Additionally, reconsidering the flow of chapters would benefit the entirety of the text, as well. I definitely found myself losing steam the more I had to read this because skimming is not entirely possible due to the important tidbits being scattered everywhere but also deeply necessary for one's sanity.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read - for a textbook. It's not dry like most textbooks and I actually enjoyed reading it.

That being said, I think it's best left to those with experience/prior training in social sciences and evaluation. There are a few concepts and theories that challenge the traditional perspective and might lead to confusion. What I mean is that it's best to understand something really well as it is before creatively messing with it. For example, his chapter on validity is clearly meant to propose a new type of validity - utility - and not meant to be a primer on the concept of validity and an inexperienced evaluator could come out of it thinking that usefulness=validity.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may get my American Evaluation Association membership revoked for giving this so few stars, but I was pretty underwhelmed by this alleged classic. Patton does a great job of introducing and explaining evaluation, and this is probably a great book to read if you either know nothing about evaluation or need something to keep you engaged on a long airplane ride. But for serious consumption, it's a little too user-friendly. The chattiness of the text and the excess of examples meant that I found myself highlighting practically nothing.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this text quite useful in helping me to develop a primary orientation of attention to evaluation use throughout all phases of an evaluation. This text provides a wonderful, shelf resource for how to think about and act on "primary intended use by primary intended users" and pushed my thinking about the purpose and impact of evaluative efforts in our modern society. I spent a couple of days immersed in this work as part of my doctoral studies and I am thankful for the academic exercise that prompted me to go so deep in this text.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extra-boring.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

4th editions still need editors. And I hate this book. Though I do not hate it quite as much as I now hate evaluation humor. Uggh.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book contains a lot of useful information about data collection and analysis, but it could have been edited down a lot.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this text. Excellent approach really outlines the pitfalls and the fact that evaluation is so individual. Loved the checklist at the end.

[Synthia Green]

If I intend to put the end user in mind, evaluations will connect program priorities to the communities they serve.

Duh!

[Marcus Laws · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was required reading for my Monitoring and Evaluation course. The chapters are kind of long winded but very detailed and easy to understand.