Getting evaluation right in diverse contexts
| Published date | 01 September 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1035719X231185286 |
| Author | John Guenther |
| Date | 01 September 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Editorial |
Editorial
Evaluation Journal of Australasia
2023, Vol. 23(3) 123–125
© The Author(s) 2023
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DOI: 10.1177/1035719X231185286
journals.sagepub.com/home/evj
Getting evaluation right in
diverse contexts
John Guenther
Our September 2023 issue of the Evaluation Journal of Australasia offers articles from
Australian, Canadian and New Zealand contexts. They offer implications for evaluation
practice and partnerships, with a particular focus on public/allied health and
community-based program implementation. As I read these articles, I see how the
authors are grappling with ‘getting evaluation right’, not just from a pragmatic and
technical perspective but also from a philosophical and ethical perspective.
The practice article by Katina D’Onise and Katherine Pontifex provides an in-
sightful reflection on a response to population health needs in the context of COVID-19
vaccination strategies. The urgency associated with various COVID-19 responses has
led to innovations and rapid, flexible approaches that otherwise might not have been
considered (see also Iyamu et al., 2023;Kelly, 2023). And in this regard, D’Onise and
Pontifex’s article demonstrates a similar dynamic. What is different here though is the
application of the ‘Lean start-up model’, which is designed to work with development
of new products in uncertain contexts. The approach employed ‘evaluative thinking’as
a way of critically thinking and acting on evidence as it rapidly emerges (see also Cole,
2023 in the last issue for a detailed discussion of this topic). As I read through the
lessons learned, the benefit of the approach used lies in its ability to quickly respond in a
rapidly changing environment to implement policy initiatives, which include an ev-
idence base. However, there are risks, as there are with any innovation. Haste and
authoritative mandates may result in corners being cut, which may compromise ethical
imperatives. Nevertheless, one of the key learnings from this work is that evidence can
be quickly generated where there is a need for an urgent response to a complex problem.
The research article by Katie McMenamin, John McMenamin and Andy Towers
proposes an asset-based approach to rural general practice evaluation in the context of
rural Aotearoa New Zealand. The premise behind the approach is that rural M
aori
communities have strengths and voices that should be drawn on when implementing
and evaluating health programs. I agree –of course they do. What is somewhat
surprising is that we should need to justify such an approach and continue to push back
against deficit discourses of gaps and disadvantage. The authors of this article argue that
an asset-based approach to service evaluation will enhance equity for M
aori. Perhaps
what is also required is a recognition among policy designers and implementers that
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