Program evaluation theory and practice : a comprehensive guide / Donna M. Mertens, Amy T. Wilson.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The landscape of evaluation -- Introduction to evaluation: defining terms and ethical considerations -- Framing evaluation : paradigms, branches, and theories -- Historical and contemporary evaluation paradigms, branches, theories, and approaches -- The postpositivist paradigm and the methods branch -- The pragmatic paradigm and the use branch -- The constructivist paradigm and the values branch -- The transformative paradigm and the social justice branch -- Planning evaluations -- Working with stakeholders: establishing the context and the evaluand -- Evaluation purposes and questions -- Evaluation designs -- Data collection strategies and indicators -- Stakeholders, participants, and sampling -- Data analysis and interpretation -- Implementation in evaluation -- Communication and utilization of findings -- Meta-evaluation and project management -- Perennial and emerging issues in evaluation -- Glossary.