Hi there. Would you please elaborate more about the theoretical notion of valuing in program evaluation? I have read it from an evaluation of a diabetes nurse specialist prescribing project, whose authors are Wilkinson et al. (2014).

No problem ?

I see. Thanks!

Sure. Christie & Alkin (2013) suggested that the theoretical notion of value is based on the general logic of evaluation which involves determining the merit or worth of an evaluand (i.e. the project, program or policy to be evaluated). Four steps comprise this general logic: (1) establish criteria of merit (aspects of an evaluation that define whether it is good or bad and whether it is valuable or not valuable), (2) construct standards for the criteria, (3) measure performance and compare with standards, and (4) synthesize and integrate data on performance into a judgment of merit or worth. You could find this paper for further reading.

Christie CA & Alkin MC (2013) An evaluation theory tree. In Evaluation Roots: A Wider Perspective of Theorists’ Views and Influences (Alkin MC ed.). Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA, pp. 11–57.