| Session Title: Contrary to Expectations: When Evaluators have Bad News to Share |
| Think Tank Session 123 to be held in Room 107 in the Convention Center on Wednesday, Nov 5, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Evaluation Use TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Matthew Goldwasser, University of Illinois Chicago, mlg@uic.edu |
| Carol Fendt, University of Illinois Chicago, crfendt@hotmail.com |
| Mariam Mazboudi, University of Illinois Chicago, mmazbo2@uic.edu |
| Discussant(s): |
| Megan Deiger, University of Illinois Chicago, mdeiger@uic.edu |
| Rodney Harris, University of Illinois Chicago, rharri5@uic.edu |
| Esther Mosak, University of Illinois Chicago, emosak@uic.edu |
| Abstract: At some point in evaluation work, studies produce less than favorable findings. What decision making processes are associated with presenting negative findings or 'bad news' to clients? This interactive workshop takes a case study approach to exploring issues associated with sharing controversial findings. Sample cases include: frames of understanding that factor in working relationships in constructing reports so that stakeholders integrate the findings into their programs; economics of ethics and the financial and proprietary relationships between evaluators and clients (Royce, et al., 2001), and whether 'bad news' is an illusion and all findings are simply opportunities to learn, some taken, some not. This session will engage participants to think through challenges and dilemmas of negative findings, discuss possible responses and pool our collective experience and insights to better understand when, how and why we share the 'bad news' with our various clients and stakeholders. |