Commentary on the Editor's Notes and Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Abstract

The Editor' s Notes were included in this commentary due to the subtle distinction between evaluation as a profession and the more focused idea of specific evaluator competencies, the core of Chapters 1-3. Separating the two concepts was useful and created a canvas upon which to paint these comments. The chapters contain descriptions of the history underlying the 2015-2018 AEA Competencies Task Force, activities it undertook, and the final product, the competencies. Together, they demonstrate an essential competency, documenting processes and products, and are an invaluable record for future evaluators working on the complex challenges that were uncovered. While I will offer other things that might have been in the chapters, the authors are commended for the high bar they set and for contributions to the field of evaluation.

Special Section Editors’ Note: A Focus on the Evaluation Profession

“…Intentionally invited to critique CTF's work published in NDE issue 168, Altschuld (2020) and Hall (2020) identified challenges for future work in generating evidence on the competencies' use and contribution to the professionalization of the evaluation field.…”