| Session Title: From Practice to Praxis: Integrating Evaluation Anthropology Theory and Method |
| Multipaper Session 862 to be held in Wekiwa 5 on Saturday, Nov 14, 1:40 PM to 3:10 PM |
| Sponsored by the Collaborative, Participatory & Empowerment Evaluation TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Rodney Hopson, Duquesne University, hopson@duq.edu |
| Discussant(s): |
| Michael Lieber, University of Illinois at Chicago, mdlieber@uic.edu |
| Abstract: Blending theory and methods of both disciplines, evaluation anthropology has emerged as a new subfield. Most anthropological evaluations focus on the application of ethnographic methods to the solution of evaluation problems. But although it is often implicit, anthropological evaluations are also inherently theory-driven. Ethnographic methods are fundamentally based on social and culture theory. Evaluation anthropology is both theory-driven and data-driven. Convening four experienced evaluation anthropology scholars and practitioners, this session presents and analyzes two evaluation cases, one from the United States and the other from El Salvador, exploring the their theory-method linkages. It argues for an evaluation anthropology praxis approach recognizing the intricate and unavoidable interdependence of theory, method and practice in this emerging subfield. The panel ends with a discussion of the challenges and value-added of a praxis model to both evaluation practice and scholarship. |
| Organizational Needs/Assets Mapping: Bringing Anthropological Systems Thinking Into Practice |
| Eve Pinsker, University of Illinois at Chicago, epnsker@uic.edu |
| Current evaluation practice often finds the evaluator working collaboratively to shape project planning, both during start-up and ongoing formative evaluation. Anthropologically trained evaluators have the advantage of using systems concepts built into our ethnographic methods, opening their partners' eyes to contextual connections not initially obvious to them. This is particularly relevant in arenas where "developmental" evaluation is relevant, such as coalition-building projects requiring cross-organizational collaboration. The Organizational Needs/Assets Mapping questions summarized here were developed as a tool for use in contexts where organizations, not just individuals, are considering what they have to offer or need from a larger initiative. The anthropological theory built into the questions may be invisible to the users of the tool. However, in the current environment where "systems thinking" has become a catch phrase, it is important for anthropologists to become more explicit about the ways that systems concepts are built into our approaches. |
| The Entanglements of Process, Theory and Practice: Evaluating Asset-Based Development in El Salvador |
| James Huff, Vanguard University, jhuff@vanguard.edu |
| Asset-based community development (ABCD) has growing appeal in the United States but has received relatively little attention international development. This case study explicates the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of an anthropological process evaluation of an El Salvador non-profit organization. The paper has three goals: First, it provides empirical ethnographic data on the interactions that occurred between local actors involved in the identification of development projects in three different communities. Second, the paper draws on anthropological theory, for example Olivier de Sardan's notion of the "entangled social logics" (2004), to analyze the processes by which varied stakeholders attempted to create consensus about which local development initiatives to implement. Finally, it presents how the entangled social logics approach can both strengthen and challenge evaluation anthropologist practice. Olivier de Sardan, J. 2004. Anthropology and Development: Understanding Contemporary Social Change. London: Zed Books. |