| Session Title: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Issues TIG Business Meeting and Presentation: Evaluation Policy and Practice for LGBT Issues and People |
| Business Meeting Session 436 to be held in Capitol Ballroom Section 5 on Thursday, Nov 6, 6:10 PM to 7:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Issues TIG |
| TIG Leader(s): |
| Kari Greene, Program Design and Evaluation Services, kari.greene@state.or.us |
| Lyn Paleo, Evaluation Research and Training, paleo@igc.org |
| Steve Fifield, University of Delaware, fifield@udel.edu |
| Virginia Dicken, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, vdicken@siu.edu |
| Abstract: The 2008 conference theme is Evaluation Policy and Evaluation Practice. Quoting AEA President, William Trochim, “An evaluation policy is any rule or principle that a group or organization uses to guide its decisions and actions when doing evaluation. Sometimes these are formal, explicit and written; at other times they are more implicit and ad hoc principles or norms that have simply evolved over time.” Join us to discuss how formal and informal evaluation policies and practices affect LGBT issues and people. Programs that serve the general public are usually not evaluated with LGBT people and concerns in mind. Is this bad policy? Is it homophobia? And what is the policy climate for the evaluation of LGBT-targeted programs? What can we do to advance evaluation policies and practices that are affirming, just, and useful? The conversation will continue following the business meeting during the TIG social at a local restaurant. |