Program and Policy Evaluations in Practice: Highlights from the Federal Perspective

Abstract

This paper examines the intersection of evaluation methods and usefulness of research for policy and practice from the vantage point of federal agencies that commission a large share of domestic program evaluations with the goal of improving the ability of the government to invest its scarce dollars wisely. Toward this end, the paper revisits the prominent issues discussed in prior chapters through a lens focused on understanding conditions under which particular methodological strategies are and are not helpful in advancing the job of policy analysts, policymakers, and program administrators. The aim is to provide useful guidance to evaluators in how to interact productively with the evaluation funders and intended end-users regarding how they might make their products most useful.