| Session Title: Positionality Matters: Understanding Culture and Context From the Perspective of Key Stakeholders |
| Think Tank Session 875 to be held in TRAVIS B on Saturday, Nov 13, 2:50 PM to 4:20 PM |
| Sponsored by the Collaborative, Participatory & Empowerment Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Alyssa Na'im, Education Development Center, anaim@edc.org |
| Discussant(s): |
| Araceli Martinez Ortiz, Sustainable Future Inc, araceli@sustainablefuturenow.com |
| Shannan McNair, Oakland University, mcnair@oakland.edu |
| Carol Nixon, Edvantia Inc, carol.nixon@edvantia.org |
| David Reider, Education Design LLC, david@educationdesign.biz |
| Angelique Tucker Blackmon, Innovative Learning Concepts LLC, ablackmon@ilearningconcepts.com |
| Pam Van Dyk, Evaluation Resources LLC, evaluationresources@msn.com |
| Karen L Yanowitz, Arkansas State University, kyanowit@astate.edu |
| Abstract: This think tank will explore the challenges and best practices of working with and relating to stakeholders in program evaluation. Presenters will share their experiences with engaging stakeholders from various fields, disciplines, or populations. Central to this discussion will be the notion that various stakeholder groups bring a unique and often integrated culture (or way of doing things) and perspectives that should inform the evaluation process; evaluators must be equipped with certain knowledge and skills to navigate and facilitate understanding within and across stakeholder groups while ensuring and balancing standards of quality. This session poses two questions: 1) How do evaluators begin to understand the stakeholders’ perspectives involved in the program evaluation?; and 2) What role do or should stakeholders play in the design of the evaluation? Participants will be assigned to one of three stakeholder groups – decision makers, implementers, or recipients – to explore these questions in small group discussions. |