Evidence Reform: A Means to Professionalize Federal Evaluation

• In Event: Effective Evaluation Policies and Partnerships to Foster Evidence Use

Abstract

Evaluations were initially employed to measure the effectiveness of programs because evaluators have a unique ability to influence innovative decision-making. Innovation requires not only the generation of credible evidence, but knowledge brokering for utilization by pertinent stakeholders. Federal evaluations can play an integral role in informing policymaking processes, but not all federal agencies have established evaluation policies, which can result in inconsistent and inefficient data practices. This has called for an Evidence Reform through the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (i.e. the Evidence Act) which is a means to professionalize evaluation in the US federal government. This paper will discuss the tremendous impact the Evidence Act will have on organizational evaluation capacity, culture, and practices.

Authors

• Esther Nolton, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

• Rodney K. Hopson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Diana D'Amico Pawlewicz, University of North Dakota

• Marvin Powell, George Mason University