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Participatory Evaluation Across Cultures and Ethnic Groups: Some Lessons from Working in Latin and Anglo-Saxon Cultures
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| Presenter(s):
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| José María Díaz Puente,
University of Politics Madrid,
jm.diazpuente@upm.es
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| Abstract:
Thanks to globalization, evaluators are likely to work with people from multiple ethnic groups and different cultures. People from different cultures may show some differences: different ways of looking at things; different ways of expression; different beliefs, values, norms, customs, behaviors, knowledge and language. These differences may cause difficulties in the evaluation work and in the interpretation of the data gathered through participatory techniques. The goal of this paper is to shed some light on these issues regarding the crossing of cultural boundaries with participatory evaluation. We will do that reflecting on some evaluation experiences in the USA, Spain and Latin America, and identifying some differences between Latin (e.g., Spanish, Hispanic) and Anglo-Saxon cultures. Some of these differences –regarding the need for sympathy, familiarity, individualism, establishing power distances among people, making things explicit, the different conception and importance of time, etc.– show practical meaningful consequences for the evaluation participatory work.
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Increasing Citizen’s Participation in International Evaluation
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| Presenter(s):
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| Awgu Ezechukwu,
Western Michigan University,
eawgu@yahoo.com
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| Abstract:
Citizen’s participation in program evaluation in this paper is addressed as the level of influence or power that citizens have over the planning and implementation of the program that is intended to affect their lives. Normally, programs are designed in the interest and welfare of citizens. However, the level of the participation or non-participation in the programs with regard to employment to work as technicians, resident observers, and community organizers affect their attitude to the program. Determining the level of citizen’s participation is very important in the assessment of the merit, worth and significance of a program. This presentation will address these issues, (a) what are the eight levels of citizen’s participation and non-participation? (b) What are the three sub levels of participation and non-participation? (c) Provide characteristics and illustration of citizen’s participation and non-participation in evaluation (d) Present the impact of citizen’s participation and non-participation in evaluation.
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