Practical Evaluation

Michael Quinn Patton is author of more than a dozen books on evaluation including Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods, 4th ed (2015), Blue Marble Evaluation (2020), Principles-Focused Evaluation (2018), Facilitating Evaluation (2018) and Developmental Evaluation (2011). Based in Minnesota, he was on the faculty of the University of Minnesota for 18 years and is a former president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). Michael is a recipient of the Alva and Gunnar Myrdal Evaluation Practice Award, the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Evaluation Theory Award, and the Research on Evaluation Award, all from AEA He has also received the Lester F. Ward Distinguished Contribution to Applied and Clinical Sociology Award from the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology. In 2021 he received the first Transformative Evaluator Award from EvalYouth. He is an active speaker, trainer, and workshop presenter who has conducted applied research and evaluation on a broad range of issues and has worked with organizations and programs at the international, national, state, provincial, and local levels. Michael has three children-a musician, an engineer, and an evaluator-and four grandchildren. When not evaluating, he enjoys exploring the woods and rivers of Minnesota, where he lives.

THE PRACTICAL MANDATE The Source of the Mandate to Be Practical ISSUES AND OPTIONS Evaluation Issues in Practical Perspective Collaborative Evaluation Practice With Groups FUNDAMENTALS Practicing With and Without Goals Thoughful Questionnaires Thoughtful Interviewing Thoughtful Methods Decisions Practical and Creative Evaluation Data Collection Managing Management Information Systems Fundamental Principles of Data Analysis Practical and Useful Recommendations RETURN TO THE MANDATE Practical Evaluation