Michael Quinn Patton’s Facilitating Evaluation: Principles in Practice is the first book of its kind to explain in depth and detail how to facilitate evaluation processes with stakeholders, using the author’s own stories of his experiences as an evaluation facilitator.

Volume Editors’ Introduction Preface About the Author PART A. THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EVALUATION FACILITATOR Context: My Facilitation Experience and Perspective What Facilitators Do What Is Evaluation? Chapter 1. The Niche of Evaluation Facilitation Facilitating the What Is Evaluation Task Force The Results of Facilitation Facilitation as White-Water Navigating Evaluation Facilitation as a Distinct Form of Facilitation Facilitation Lessons Ten Resources for Explaining and Getting Started in Evaluation Chapter 2. Facilitating Evaluation to Enhance Use Evaluation Facilitation Evaluation Facilitation Scenarios Variations in the Need for Facilitation Being Active, Reactive, Interactive, and Adaptive Facilitation Lessons Facilitation Resources for Skill Assessment and Development Chapter 3. The Overarching Principle of Evaluation Facilitation: Be Utilization-Focused Why Use Principles-Focused Evaluation Facilitation GUIDE Dimensions of the Utilization-Focused Principle Summary Facilitation Lessons Additional Resources PART B. FIVE OPERATING PRINCIPLES FOR FACILITATING EVALUATION Quick Review Overarching Versus Operating Principles The Evaluation Facilitation Brittle Star Chapter 4. Be Guided by the Personal Factor: The First Operating Principle The Personal Factor GUIDE Dimensions of the Personal Factor Principle Effective Practices for Facilitating Evaluation Facilitation Lessons Summary Resources for Applying the Personal Factor Principle Chapter 5. Engage Through Options: The Second Operating Principle Research on Deciding Among Options What Makes Evaluation Decision Making Challenging for Stakeholders Myriad of Choices GUIDE Dimensions of the Engage Through Options Principle Facilitation Lessons Summary Tools and Resources for Facilitating Engagement With Options Chapter 6. Observe, Interpret, and Adapt: The Third Operating Principle Adopting an Observation Mindset Adapting in Real Time Adaptive Action as a Framework for Evaluation Facilitation GUIDE Criteria for the Observe, Interpret, Adapt Principle Facilitation Lessons Summary Resources to Support Observation, Interpretation, and Adaptation Chapter 7. Embed Evaluative Thinking Throughout: The Fourth Operating Principle Evaluative Thinking GUIDE Criteria for the Evaluative Thinking Principle Facilitation Lessons Summary Additional Resources to Support Facilitating Evaluative Thinking Chapter 8. Invigorate With Leading-Edge Inputs: The Fifth Operating Principle Facilitating at the Leading Edge GUIDE Criteria for the Leading-Edge Principle Summary Leading-Edge Tools and Resources Chapter 9. Principles-Focused Evaluation Facilitation: Conclusion and a Look Forward Central Theme of the Book Integrating the Principles Integrating Principles in Practice Situation Recognition and Evaluation Facilitation Graphic Recording for Evaluation Facilitation Some Issues Not Addressed in This Book The Future of Evaluation Facilitation Final Offering of Resources to Expand Your Evaluation Facilitation Horizons Other Frameworks for Evaluation Facilitation References Index