It seems that it’s increasingly agreed upon that values are inevitable in evaluation — and unavoidably shape knowledge claims. What is important is understanding that values can influence this process and deciding what to do about it. If I’ve understood correctly, you are suggesting evaluators are responsible for (1) gathering multiple sources of evidence; and (2) making value judgments explicit.
What seems to matter is that the total body of evidence for evaluating a particular claim considers evidence for and against a claim from different relevant value perspectives. We need to understand how evidence is produced, what the evidence hides or emphasises, and better understand how we might consider alternatives. I suppose I’m wondering how criteria and standards alone, or which criteria and standards, can take us towards this?
Thank you! I don’t know that criteria and standards alone can do it. They’re necessary but not sufficient. In my article on evaluative thinking I unpack some of the other considerations. Bearing in mind whole books have been written on the topic!
Enjoyed reading this.
It seems that it’s increasingly agreed upon that values are inevitable in evaluation — and unavoidably shape knowledge claims. What is important is understanding that values can influence this process and deciding what to do about it. If I’ve understood correctly, you are suggesting evaluators are responsible for (1) gathering multiple sources of evidence; and (2) making value judgments explicit.
What seems to matter is that the total body of evidence for evaluating a particular claim considers evidence for and against a claim from different relevant value perspectives. We need to understand how evidence is produced, what the evidence hides or emphasises, and better understand how we might consider alternatives. I suppose I’m wondering how criteria and standards alone, or which criteria and standards, can take us towards this?
Thank you! I don’t know that criteria and standards alone can do it. They’re necessary but not sufficient. In my article on evaluative thinking I unpack some of the other considerations. Bearing in mind whole books have been written on the topic!
Thanks Julian. Another great post, so clearly explained. So useful for sharing with newer evaluators and others we're work with.
Thanks Jo!