Being an Evaluator

“Donna Podems has a wealth of experience and easily engages the reader in an exploration of the field with appropriately attenuated aplomb and generously sprinkled humor….She provides [a] broad definition of the field, describing practice in friendly ways, and spends a good deal of time translating her experience into practical and prescriptive lessons. She intends, and succeeds at, ‘demystifying’ evaluation practice and exploring what it means to be an evaluator….Dr. Podems deftly uses stories from the field, friendly insider secrets, a consistent evaluand as an example, and other well-applied storytelling mechanisms to make the endeavor less mysterious. The novice and experienced evaluator will [gain] purchase with the examples she leverages to make evaluation more accessible.”

—Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation


“I love this book! I learned a great deal and gleaned many new ideas for explaining and teaching complex topics, such as the difference between assessment and measurement. The author masterfully describes important aspects of evaluation. I particularly enjoy the way she breaks down the problem statement into 'grand' and 'pocket' problems. I also really like the idea of developing each step of program logic by assessing the difference between fact and assumption. This is marvelous because it backs into a logic model with program theory already in place.”

—Mary E. Arnold, PhD, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University


“Being an evaluator is, for Podems, a way of being—active in asking questions, responsive to context, open to where the data lead, and committed to useful results. This way of being is the basis for this practical book. The author's perspective and knowledge—grounded in extensive international experience, informed by theory, and rooted in values—make her the consummate evaluation guide. This book covers the whole territory of evaluation with wit and wisdom. Join Podems for an exquisite journey into the world of evaluation practice.”

—Michael Quinn Patton, PhD, Director, Utilization-Focused Evaluation, Saint Paul, Minnesota


“Highly recommended. This text offers a very distinctive perspective on what it means to be an evaluator. Skillfully juxtaposing theory and real-world issues, the book uniquely prepares aspiring evaluators for what they will encounter when actually conducting an evaluation. From conceptualization to implementation and dissemination, the text covers the vital challenges evaluators struggle with in every project. Drawing on a wealth of evaluation experience, the author offers needed guidance.”

—Neil J. Vincent, PhD, Department of Social Work, DePaul University


“Those who find themselves performing evaluations as part of their jobs will find this book invaluable. In a single volume, philosophical underpinnings, as well as ethics and standards, are combined with the technical aspects of practice—together with helpful tips, activities, and facilitative strategies. As a supplement to formal training, this is the 'all-in-one' manual for evaluation practitioners.”

—Aimee N. White, MEd, Custom Evaluation Services, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina


“This book's accessibility gives it a major advantage over many program evaluation texts, which tend to be dry and dense. For students new to program evaluation, readability is a major factor in comprehension, and will make them more likely to read the assigned chapters. The 'call-outs' with icons break up the text and add value to our understanding of evaluation by providing examples and exercises that bring the concepts, theories, and techniques to life.”

—John Klemanski, PhD, Department of Political Science, Oakland University


“This book reflects Podems's immense and deep understanding of the subject of evaluation. It comes at a time when evaluative thinking and action is necessary for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030. Written in an appealing, accessible style, the book is solidly rooted in the language and concepts of the research and evaluation community. It takes a pragmatic approach, dealing with real-world issues such as weak and poor data and conflicting values, to name a few. I highly recommend this book to evaluators, new and seasoned—it is a major contribution to the global discipline.”

—Indran A. Naidoo, PhD, Director, Independent Evaluation Office, United Nations Development Programme


“Podems takes a most pragmatic and practical approach—who else has thought of using dog and cat food, or a child’s colorful building blocks, to clarify evaluation terminology? What really makes this book stand apart from others is the rich discussion of being an evaluator and the values that confers. Rarely, if ever, do we get such rich detail on the personal, scholarly, and cultural side of evaluation.”

—Richard Caldwell, MS, Senior Program Officer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation