Short Abstract

Many terms in evaluation are used differently, and there is no commonly agreed classification system (typology) for evaluations. This session proposes a broad definition of evaluation and a typology of typologies.

Description

Many terms in evaluation are used differently, and there is no commonly agreed classification system (typology) for evaluations. This session proposes a broad definition of evaluation and a typology of typologies. Different definitions of evaluation are presented, identifying common elements to propose a comprehensive definition. This provides the basis for a discussion of what is and isn't evaluation and the difference evaluation and both monitoring and research.

Typologies are used to label evaluations, but these typologies are often not clear on their organizing principle which leads to conflating different typologies. A distinction is also made between approaches, methods and techniques. The failure to make this distinction in one reason why methods free or methods-light evaluations are common. A simple new format for describing evaluation designs is proposed.

The presentation covers part of the content of two books published in 2025: The Evidence Revolution and Evidence-Based Policy, and My Big Book of Blogs: Reflections from the frontline of the evidence revolution. A limited number of copies of the two books will be available for purchase at a discounted price.