The Politics and Practice of Empowerment Evaluation and Social Interventions

Lessons from the Atlantic Community Action Program for Children Regional Evaluation

Authors

  • Madine VanderPlaat Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Yolande Samson Health Canada, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • Pauline Raven Annapolis Valley Hants Community Action Program for Children, Canning, Nova Scotia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.016.005

Abstract

Empowerment or participatory evaluation has gained significant popularity in the last few years. However, there is considerable variation in the manner in which the terms are used and in the politics that underlie and inform such practices. This article, which reflects upon the authors’ collective experience with the Atlantic Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) regional evaluation, argues for empowerment-oriented evaluation strategies informed by emancipatory politics. In particular, the authors examine the implications an emancipatory ethic has for their understanding of the terms participatory, empowerment, and social change within the context of evaluation research.

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Published

2001-04-21

How to Cite

VanderPlaat, M., Samson, Y., & Raven, P. (2001). The Politics and Practice of Empowerment Evaluation and Social Interventions: Lessons from the Atlantic Community Action Program for Children Regional Evaluation. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 16(1), 79–98. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.016.005

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2001): Spring

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2001 Madine VanderPlaat, Yolande Samson, Pauline Raven

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