Utilization-Focused Developmental

Evaluation and Toward a More Perfect Union

Utilization-Focused Developmental Evaluation

• Evaluation should be judged on its usefulness to its intended users.– There are people who will use the

information, and these people are involved in the process

– Primary users want information to help answer questions they have

– Implementations for use are part of decisions

– In short: real and specific users and uses

Utilization-Focused Developmental Evaluation

• helps develop social change initiatives in complex or uncertain environments

• for programs that are continuously adapting, not just improving

• facilitates real-time, or close to real-time, feedback to program staff thus facilitating a continuous development loop

• documents the change in strategies over time

Documenting Change Over Time

Un(der)realized StrategyThings you thought you would do that you ended up leaving behind (or just can’t get to) for one reason or anotherDeliberate StrategyThings you planned to do that are working and you’ll continue doing / intended strategies that were implemented

Emergent StrategyNew opportunities you noticed along the way and that you are incorporating as part of the work

Realized StrategyThis then becomes your new baseline – your Intended Strategy – for the next conversation

IntendedStrategy

Adapted from Michael Quinn Patton’s book Developmental Evaluation © 2011.

Program Goals and Outcomes

GOALSWhat do we want to accomplish?1. Engage partner organizations and

community leaders across the state in the development and execution of community-specific discussions around the U.S. Constitution

1. Encourage thoughtful, civil, humanities-based conversations with Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds around our shared civic connections

1. Increase participants’ literacy and understanding of the U.S. Constitution and how this historical document affects their daily lives

OUTCOMESWho or what will change?A. The Minnesota Humanities Center will expand its

statewide network of support for the humanities

B. Partner organizations will increase their capacity to engage their communities

C. Host sites will increase their ability to adapt community-specific programming in response to emerging needs

A. Minnesotans will participate in a different type of learning opportunity (shared dialogue vs. lecture)

B. Community members will come together with others with whom they do not interact regularly

C. Participants will connect civilly

A. Participants will explore how the U.S. Constitution affects their daily lives

Participant Questions

• What connections did this conversation help you make?

• How did or didn’t this event help you connect with people you don’t normally?

• What themes do you think it’s important for your community to engage in conversation around?

• Would you participate in a similar conversation in the future? Why or why not?

Post-Conversation Questions

• Did this conversation feel successful to you? Why or why not?

• What examples were shared about how the Constitution has impacted participants’ lives?

• What changes (if any) are you planning to make for your next conversation? Why?

• How many people attended the conversation?

• Do you have anything else you would like to share?• How would you describe participant engagement during the conversation?

• What do you need from the Humanities Center or other partners to be successful?

Host

Sit

es &

Facilit

ato

rsFacilit

ato

rs

Post-Program Questions

• Did this conversation series feel successful to you? Why or why not?

• What did attendance look like for your conversation series?

• How did this compare to similar programming you offer?

• How did you expand your organization’s network within your community?

• Would you host a similar conversation in the future? Why or why not?

• What themes do you think it’s important for your community to engage in conversation around?

Host

Sit

es