Kapp and Anderson provide a helpful “Usage Assessment Tool” to use in interviews and discussions with staff regarding evaluation use. Identify 6 of the 12 questions they provide in the tool.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The 12 questions are: (1) Can you think of any recent program evaluations that have been completed at your agency? (2) Who did the evaluation work? (3) Why was the evaluation conducted? What was the purpose? (e.g., funder request, internal initiative) (4) Did they involve agency staff? If so, what was their role? (5) Describe the evaluation, including the type of program, research design, data sources, data analysis, and results. (6) How was the evaluation used? (7) Did it impact the operation of services? (8) Did any specific actors inside or outside of the agency play a role in the use of data? What was their role? Were they supportive of the use of data? Were their efforts successful? (9) Was the evaluation completed in a satisfactory manner? Why do you say that? (10) Generally, how would you rate the evaluation? Was it conducted in a credible manner? Were the results used to impact services or policy? (11) What advice would you give someone who might do an evaluation in this agency based on that experience? (12) How are decisions about service made in the agency? Is it a system where a few individuals make the decision? Do the decision makers seek input? Who is given the opportunity for input? Does the input seem to influence the decision?