Validity is both a critical foundation for, and widely contested concept in the field of program evaluation. Given the wide and divergent treatment of the term, this article sought to enhance the field’s understanding and application of validity by systematically identifying, collating and integrating existing conceptions of validity. A critical interpretive synthesis approach was taken to combine the best elements of systematic literature searching with integrative review. We found that conceptions of validity could be roughly collated into three categories pertaining to the evaluation research, evaluative judgement and reporting, and beyond the evaluation proper. The result was a wide-ranging map of validity concepts against the various stages of the evaluation process. This made clear several gaps in the validity thinking, resulting in the development of comprehensive but not yet complete framework that weaves together related aspects identified into a cohesive whole. It is our hope that this initial iteration of a cohesive validity framework will be the starting point for a cooperative effort to improve professional evaluation practice.

No abstract

Transitioning to a circular economy is critical in reducing current unsustainable levels of resource extraction, consumption and throughput to waste generation. The circular economy literature to date has predominantly focused on the supply-side, particularly the design, production and supply of products and materials through circular business models. However, the ‘use’ stage of the value chain is critical in realising the benefits of upstream activities. While research on the role of circular consumption is beginning to emerge, there does not yet exist a clear and comprehensive picture of the set of behaviours that are required or desired of users in a circular economy. The lack of such a framework is an important gap to fill. To address this, the research adopted a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach engaging with a wide range of Australian circular economy stakeholders from across the public, private, research and civil society sectors. A comprehensive Framework of User Circular Behaviours was co-produced, contained 59 distinct user behaviours, clearly labelled and defined. Behaviours are organised according to their phase in user interaction with a product, and by their function in a circular economy. A comparison with existing models of user-consumer behaviour reveals both the greater breadth and depth of the Framework. In addition, a preliminary model of the inter-relationships between these User behaviours, and up- and downstream circular activities is provided. The benefits of new Framework are many. It can provide clarity to future discussions of User behaviours, be utilised to organise and accumulate evidence of barriers and enablers of these behaviours, and the interventions that work to change them, and be a foundation for connecting research on production/business models with researcher on consumers/users.

A circular economy is critical to addressing current unsustainable resource extraction, consumption and waste. Research has hitherto focused predominantly on the supply-side, particularly design, production and circular business models. However, the demand-side is essential in realising benefits from upstream activities. While circular consumption research is emerging, a clear and comprehensive picture of user behaviours required in a circular economy is still lacking. To address this, the research adopted a transdisciplinary integration approach, engaging over 100 Australian circular economy stakeholders from the public, private, research and civil sectors. The output of the research integration was a comprehensive Framework of User Circular Behaviours, containing 59 distinct user behaviours, clearly labelled, categorised and defined. The Framework organises user behaviours according to three phases of product interaction (get, use, pass on), and more specifically by their function in a circular economy. A preliminary model of the inter-relationships between these user behaviours and up- and downstream circular activities was also produced. The Framework contributes to existing circular consumer literature in three ways: it provides both greater breadth and depth of behaviours than existing models; it clarifies when performance of the behaviours can be considered circular; and includes precise definitions to provide clarity and enable consistency in terminology. The Framework has many benefits. It can enable translation between different stakeholders, connect research on production/business models with research on consumers/users and be utilised to organise and accumulate evidence of barriers and enablers of these behaviours and the interventions that work to change them.

Recycling is a common policy response to problems of waste, particularly in developed countries. Understanding what influences whether and how well people recycle is important for optimising recycling outcomes. Behaviour is complex, and understanding it fully requires drawing on insights from many disciplines. However past reviews of recycling behaviour research have revealed that the field is currently fragmented into single discipline endeavours, and highly concentrated around psychological approaches. The objective of this paper was to conduct a systematic review of current published knowledge from a wide range of disciplines on what influences households recycling behaviour. The resulting factors were systematically synthesised to produce a comprehensive multi-level hierarchy of potentially influencing factors. The process also revealed potential directions for future research to improve the field’s understanding of the influences on recycling behaviour, and the ability to develop more effective interventions that address waste and recycling issues.