Stakeholder Involvement in Evaluation: Three Decades of the American Journal of Evaluation

Abstract

Background: Stakeholder involvement in various phases of evaluation has received increasing attention over the past three decades. Indeed, the American Journal of Evaluation (AJE) has reflected this overall philosophy and strategy through a number of publications about several theoretical frameworks and practical applications. Those AJE articles outline the primary assumptions of the stakeholder approaches to evaluation, their practical applications, constraints, and benefits for providing a new direction in evaluation. Purpose: What lessons are there for our field concerning the way that stakeholder involvement has been conceptualized and applied in AJE? This article focuses on the ways in which AJE authors have approached the notion of stakeholder involvement over the past three decades, drawing on key articles from scholarship on this topic. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: Not applicable. Data Collection and Analysis: Desk review. Findings: This review shows how AJE has enhanced our understanding of the evolution of these approaches to evaluation, from a global perspective to differentiated approaches with a shared theme. Keywords: collaborative evaluation; participatory evaluation; empowerment evaluation; stakeholder approaches to evaluation; stakeholder involvement