Considering an Appreciative Approach to International Extension Evaluation

Abstract

Programmatic evaluation has become a common practice in international extension education. Evaluation has primarily been used to report the outputs, outcomes and impacts of extension efforts. Sometimes an evaluation is done for formative reasons, to make programmatic improvements, and most often for summative reasons, as a justification for further funding. Depending upon the evaluator (or evaluative approach) the evaluation will include stakeholder input and focus on collecting data the stakeholder will ultimately use. Some have even gone so far as engaging in developmental evaluation which allows for ambiguity and changes in direction throughout the duration of an extension program. Despite the many ways the discipline evaluates, almost every evaluation takes a problem-solving approach where areas for improvement are identified. The purpose of this manuscript was to reflect upon past evaluation practice within the international extension literature and discuss the role appreciative evaluation can play as evaluation continues to inform international extension efforts.

Examining Post traumatic Growth After a Natural Disaster: An Appreciative Inquiry

“…This study proposes examining posttraumatic growth inventories through the lens of appreciative inquiry. The concept of appreciative inquiry is rooted in searching for the best in people and their organizations (Cooperrider & Whitney, 2005;Lamm & Lamm, 2018). This approach can be defined as the "systematic discovery of what gives 'life' to a living system when it is most alive, most effective, and most constructively capable" (p.3) and is characterized by asking questions which strengthen an organization's capacity to conceptualize positive potential (Cooperrider & Whitney, 2005).…”

“…This approach can be defined as the "systematic discovery of what gives 'life' to a living system when it is most alive, most effective, and most constructively capable" (p.3) and is characterized by asking questions which strengthen an organization's capacity to conceptualize positive potential (Cooperrider & Whitney, 2005). As opposed to a gap analysis approach which tends to focus on deficiencies, appreciative inquiry focuses on successes and strengths (Lamm & Lamm, 2018). For example, questions such as "Which circumstances maximize program effectiveness?…”

“…The results of the present study indicate this approach may be beneficial to help individuals affected by disasters and traumatic events to consider that there may be some potential for growth as a result. Focusing on what is successful rather than what is unsuccessful allows an individual or organization to recognize their positive potential and provide better resources for their clientele (Lamm & Lamm, 2018). Thus, the appreciative inquiry approach may help in identifying programming strategies which benefit clientele and inform future programming by adopting methods and strategies which have been successful previously.…”

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“…Descriptively, there were observed differences among the capitals-social capital had the highest mean response score while built-financial capital had the lowest. For individuals who want to engage with the communities based on the diagnostics results, possible follow-up methods could include an appreciative approach focusing on strengths rather than on gaps (Lamm & Lamm, 2018); or, in the case of marginalized communities, a culture-centered approach focusing on coalition building among marginalized members of the population could be used (Dutta, 2008). The intent is to shift the lens of community understanding to the inside-out perspective, ultimately reorienting community development efforts.…”

Evaluating Extension in Times of Crisis: Assessing Program Impact during COVID-19

“…Proving the public value of Extension programs is essential to maintaining funding (Lamm et al, 2013). However, impact has remained difficult to measure due to the variety of topics covered by Extension programming, though recent work has begun to develop Extension's capacity to aggregate program impact to communicate and better articulate the public value of Extension services (Lamm et al, 2020;Lamm & Lamm, 2018).…”