Yearning for learning? : conditions for learning from evaluation in human service non-government organisations (NGOs)

James Herbert

Yearning for learning? : conditions for learning from evaluation in human service non-government organisations (NGOs)

James Herbert

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Conference Paper › peer-review

Abstract

![CDATA[The aim to foster learning is prominent in contemporary evaluation theory (Schwandt, 2005; Shaw & Shaw, 1997; Taut, 2007; Torres & Preskill, 2001) and practice (Carman & Fredricks), 2008; Preskill & Caracelli, 1997). However, there are considerable challenges in advancing this intent to actually creating opportunities for learning from evaluation. Drawing on a preliminary analysis of two human service programs delivered by NGOs in Sydney, Australia, this paper will discuss the difficulties involved in promoting learning from evaluation. Under (sometimes) difficult conditions, human service practitioners expressed an acceptance of the aims of evaluation and a willingness to engage with and reflect on evaluation information. Even with this willingness, challenges presented in terms of the way evaluations are conducted and practitioners’ experiences of them that affected the potential for learning.]]

Original language	English
Title of host publication	8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Improvement by Evaluation: Peer Reviewed Full Papers of the 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Evaluation as a Tool for Research, Learning and Making Things Better: a Conference for Experts of Education, Human Services and Policy: 18-20 June 2012, Pori, Finland
Publisher	University of Tampere
Pages	20-29
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Print)	9789514488597
Publication status	Published - 2012
Event	International Conference on Evaluation for Practice - Duration: 18 Jun 2012 → …

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Evaluation for Practice
Period	18/06/12 → …

Keywords

learning
human services
non-government organizations
evaluation

Cite this

Herbert, J. (2012). Yearning for learning? : conditions for learning from evaluation in human service non-government organisations (NGOs). In 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Improvement by Evaluation: Peer Reviewed Full Papers of the 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Evaluation as a Tool for Research, Learning and Making Things Better: a Conference for Experts of Education, Human Services and Policy: 18-20 June 2012, Pori, Finland (pp. 20-29). University of Tampere.

Herbert, James. / Yearning for learning? : conditions for learning from evaluation in human service non-government organisations (NGOs). 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Improvement by Evaluation: Peer Reviewed Full Papers of the 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Evaluation as a Tool for Research, Learning and Making Things Better: a Conference for Experts of Education, Human Services and Policy: 18-20 June 2012, Pori, Finland. University of Tampere, 2012. pp. 20-29

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booktitle = "8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Improvement by Evaluation: Peer Reviewed Full Papers of the 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Evaluation as a Tool for Research, Learning and Making Things Better: a Conference for Experts of Education, Human Services and Policy: 18-20 June 2012, Pori, Finland",

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Herbert, J 2012, Yearning for learning? : conditions for learning from evaluation in human service non-government organisations (NGOs). in 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Improvement by Evaluation: Peer Reviewed Full Papers of the 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Evaluation as a Tool for Research, Learning and Making Things Better: a Conference for Experts of Education, Human Services and Policy: 18-20 June 2012, Pori, Finland. University of Tampere, pp. 20-29, International Conference on Evaluation for Practice, 18/06/12.

Yearning for learning? : conditions for learning from evaluation in human service non-government organisations (NGOs). / Herbert, James.
8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Improvement by Evaluation: Peer Reviewed Full Papers of the 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Evaluation as a Tool for Research, Learning and Making Things Better: a Conference for Experts of Education, Human Services and Policy: 18-20 June 2012, Pori, Finland. University of Tampere, 2012. p. 20-29.

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Conference Paper › peer-review

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AB - ![CDATA[The aim to foster learning is prominent in contemporary evaluation theory (Schwandt, 2005; Shaw & Shaw, 1997; Taut, 2007; Torres & Preskill, 2001) and practice (Carman & Fredricks), 2008; Preskill & Caracelli, 1997). However, there are considerable challenges in advancing this intent to actually creating opportunities for learning from evaluation. Drawing on a preliminary analysis of two human service programs delivered by NGOs in Sydney, Australia, this paper will discuss the difficulties involved in promoting learning from evaluation. Under (sometimes) difficult conditions, human service practitioners expressed an acceptance of the aims of evaluation and a willingness to engage with and reflect on evaluation information. Even with this willingness, challenges presented in terms of the way evaluations are conducted and practitioners’ experiences of them that affected the potential for learning.]]

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BT - 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Improvement by Evaluation: Peer Reviewed Full Papers of the 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Evaluation as a Tool for Research, Learning and Making Things Better: a Conference for Experts of Education, Human Services and Policy: 18-20 June 2012, Pori, Finland

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Herbert J. Yearning for learning? : conditions for learning from evaluation in human service non-government organisations (NGOs). In 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Improvement by Evaluation: Peer Reviewed Full Papers of the 8th International Conference on Evaluation for Practice: Evaluation as a Tool for Research, Learning and Making Things Better: a Conference for Experts of Education, Human Services and Policy: 18-20 June 2012, Pori, Finland. University of Tampere. 2012. p. 20-29

Yearning for learning? : conditions for learning from evaluation in human service non-government organisations (NGOs)

Abstract

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