Fourth-Generation Evaluation

Authors

  • Anne Neufeld University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta
  • Alan G. Ryan University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.3.006

Abstract

Naturalistic program evaluation strategies are gaining acceptance within the evaluation profession. They are especially useful in the examination of the transaction, or process, components of programs. One of their disadvantages is that they demand extensive quantities of evaluator time and effort which are difficult to arrange. Guba refers to evaluation conducted within the naturalistic paradigm (as distinct from the use of naturalistic techniques) as fourth-generation evaluation. This article describes an evaluation study in the health field that attempted to stay within the naturalistic paradigm while mitigating some of the drawbacks of the methodological process of naturalistic evaluation.

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Published

1988-09-01

How to Cite

Neufeld, A., & Ryan, A. G. (1988). Fourth-Generation Evaluation. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 3(2), 77–91. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.3.006

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (1988): Fall

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 1988 Anne Neufeld, Alan G. Ryan

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