Dr. Jody Fitzpatrick—Associate Professor, University of Colorado Denver and President-Elect of the American Evaluation Association

Many elements of context influence evaluation but some primary ones include the setting of the evaluand (education, social welfare, mental health, environment) and the discipline or training of the evaluator and the key stakeholders.  Both of these contextual issues influence the culture and values concerning evaluation.  I (Fitzpatrick) will talk about the diversity in evaluation in the United States and other countries today and how these elements, setting and discipline, influence approaches and practice in evaluation.