AES 2015 International Evaluation Conference

Heather Nunns (Analytic Matters)


The bottom line for evaluators is producing an evaluation report with evaluative conclusions that are valid and defensible.  Evaluative reasoning is a shorthand term to describe what’s involved in getting to such conclusions. Evaluative reasoning is the crux of quality evaluation.  Unless an evaluation is based on sound evaluative reasoning, other efforts to enhance quality will be compromised.


The presenter will summarise the key findings of a meta-evaluation of 30 evaluation reports commissioned by New Zealand public sector agencies.  The aim of the meta-evaluation  is to understand how evaluative reasoning is practised in public sector evaluation in Aotearoa New Zealand based on a conceptual framework drawn from the evaluation literature.  The presenter will explain the conceptual framework, provide a summary of the meta-evaluation findings, and share some thoughts about how we could do better in our evaluative reasoning practice. 

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