Evaluations in the English-Speaking Commonwealth Caribbean Region: Lessons From the Field

Persaud, Nadini; Dagher, Ruby

doi:10.1177/1098214019866260

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…In the United Kingdom, for example, researchers reported tension between government stakeholders and external evaluators from the National Audit Office (NAO; Lonsdale, 2008). Likewise, Persaud and Dagher (2019) described the political nature of evaluations as one of the main problems faced by evaluators in the English-speaking Commonwealth Caribbean region, fueled by a lack of trust among stakeholders toward international evaluators due to a history of colonialism and a fear of being identified with (negative) evaluation outcomes. In Canada, some government stakeholders demonstrated a tendency to resist evaluations out of uneasiness about being judged and potentially having errors or inadequacies of political decisions revealed (Seasons, 2002).…”

Section: Xea and Resistance Are Influenced By Cultural Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, educational communication between evaluators and stakeholders may promote a sense of mutual responsibility and increase the use of program evaluation (Hanberger, 2011). Even in communities with high levels of distrust and XEA pertaining to program evaluation, the demystification of the practice and the role of the evaluator through open communication has been suggested as a strategy to mitigate XEA and resistance and gain the trust of stakeholders (Persaud & Dagher, 2019). Meanwhile, Le Menestrel et al (2013) proposed a partnership model for evaluation, suggesting that engaging both internal and external evaluators (i.e., a collaborative effort between an external, thirdparty evaluation firm and a team of internal evaluators and stakeholders) can create a sense of allyship and overcome potential resistance to evaluation.…”

Section: Xea and Resistance Can Be Mitigated Through Interpersonal Sk...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Excessive Evaluation Anxiety (XEA): The Last Two Decades

Kang,

Moreau

2023

J Multidiscip Eval

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Background: Excessive evaluation anxiety (XEA) refers to disproportionate or increased evaluation anxiety among those affected by evaluation (e.g., stakeholders) characterized by the sole presence of negative consequences. It can compromise evaluator-stakeholder relationships, presenting as a barrier for program evaluation. Moreover, XEA can both cause and be caused by resistance to evaluation, which is an interrelated topic that shares many common causes, characteristics, and mitigation strategies. The participatory and interactive nature of modern evaluation approaches can exacerbate the presence of XEA. However, researchers have not explored the current state of literature on XEA. Purpose: To explore the current state of the literature on XEA over the past 20 years. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: Literature review. Data Collection and Analysis: We conducted a literature search of Academic Search Complete, Web of Science, and Scopus. We complemented the database search by a journal search of the American Journal of Evaluation, Evaluation, and the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. We then conducted a thematic analysis of the articles that met the inclusion criteria. Findings: Upon review of the articles, we identified four main themes in the literature related to XEA. Specifically, XEA: leads to poor evaluator-stakeholder relationships; is influenced by cultural factors; can be mitigated through the development of interpersonal skills; and can be mitigated through a systematic and evidence-based approach to evaluation. Keywords: Excessive evaluation anxiety, resistance to evaluation, program evaluation, evaluator-stakeholder relationships

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Section: Xea and Resistance Are Influenced By Cultural Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Xea and Resistance Can Be Mitigated Through Interpersonal Sk...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Excessive Evaluation Anxiety (XEA): The Last Two Decades

Kang,

Moreau

2023

J Multidiscip Eval

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…According to the literature, evaluators encounter several data collection related challenges. These challenges are many and varied and span a continuum from being highly complex and complicated and hard to resolve, to being less complex and more easily resolvable (Persaud & Dagher, 2020). The experience of the evaluator obviously plays a major role in how successfully various types of challenges are handled.…”

Section: Challenges With Data Collection Prior To Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Time Frame: The gathering of high quality and credible data requires adequate time. Yet, the literature indicates that time constraints are a common phenomenon in most evaluations (DaSilva, 2011;Persaud & Dagher, 2020;Rossi et al, 2004). The time frame for data collection in our new normal environment is likely to be considerably increased.…”

Section: Data Collection Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation in Our New Normal Environment: Navigating the Challenges with Data Collection

Persaud

Dagher

2021

J Multidiscip Eval

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Background: Data collection is a critical component of all evaluations. However, it often presents a number of challenges under the best of circumstances. For instance, the evaluation budget and time frame both have implications for the quality and type of data that is collected. Additionally, adherence to high quality international ethical best practices is necessary when collecting data for any purpose, methodological rigor is important for ensuring the credibility of the evaluation, improving access to important documents and stakeholders, as well as decreasing excessive evaluation anxiety on the part of critical stakeholders, when possible, is vital. These challenges have now been considerably exacerbated by the COVID-19 global health pandemic which has changed our world in fundamental ways. In what is now considered as our new normal environment, evaluators will need to make profound changes to the manner in which they plan and undertake data collection. Objectives: This paper examines the many and varied challenges that will be encountered with data collection in our new normal environment. This new normal has had an impact on evaluation practices in all countries, developed and developing, and has significantly amplified existing challenges in countries with limited evaluation culture, budgets, technological coverage, access, and connectivity. It makes an important contribution to the literature since data collection has historically and traditionally been conducted using primarily face-to-face field work and through the freedom of movement of people to undertake this task. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: Desk review was utilized for the preparation of this paper. Findings: Evaluators need to be extremely flexible, innovative, and amendable to different approaches to data collections as our new normal environment will likely be with us for a while. This pandemic has thrown everyone a very painful curveball and introduced significant new work-related challenges for a myriad of work types and work environments. Innovation and the willingness to learn new methods have become an important necessity to help with learning, accountability, transparency. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the plight of the most vulnerable and evidence-based data is the only means to assist this group. Evaluators must rise to the challenge, devise new ways to collect data that is credible and useful, and continue to promote the importance and benefits of the field of evaluation. As such, evaluators have an important role to play in the global economic recovery efforts. Keywords: budgets, challenges; COVID-19; data collection; evaluation; evaluators; new normal environment; time frame

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Measuring Legitimacy

Dagher¹

2021

Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies

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Evaluations in the English-Speaking Commonwealth Caribbean Region: Lessons From the Field

Cited by 11 publications

References 24 publications

Excessive Evaluation Anxiety (XEA): The Last Two Decades

Excessive Evaluation Anxiety (XEA): The Last Two Decades

Evaluation in Our New Normal Environment: Navigating the Challenges with Data Collection

Measuring Legitimacy

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