IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/epplan/v69y2018icp53-60.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Promoting evaluation capacity building in a complex adaptive system

Author

Listed:
  • Lawrenz, Frances
  • Kollmann, Elizabeth Kunz
  • King, Jean A.
  • Bequette, Marjorie
  • Pattison, Scott
  • Nelson, Amy Grack
  • Cohn, Sarah
  • Cardiel, Christopher L.B.
  • Iacovelli, Stephanie
  • Eliou, Gayra Ostgaard
  • Goss, Juli
  • Causey, Lauren
  • Sinkey, Anne
  • Beyer, Marta
  • Francisco, Melanie

Abstract

This study provides results from an NSF funded, four year, case study about evaluation capacity building in a complex adaptive system, the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). The results of the Complex Adaptive Systems as a Model for Network Evaluations (CASNET) project indicate that complex adaptive system concepts help to explain evaluation capacity building in a network. The NISE Network was found to be a complex learning system that was supportive of evaluation capacity building through feedback loops that provided for information sharing and interaction. Participants in the system had different levels of and sources of evaluation knowledge. To be successful at building capacity, the system needed to have a balance between both centralized and decentralized control, coherence, redundancy, and diversity. Embeddedness of individuals within the system also provided support and moved the capacity of the system forward. Finally, success depended on attention being paid to the control of resources. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrenz, Frances & Kollmann, Elizabeth Kunz & King, Jean A. & Bequette, Marjorie & Pattison, Scott & Nelson, Amy Grack & Cohn, Sarah & Cardiel, Christopher L.B. & Iacovelli, Stephanie & Eliou, Gayra O, 2018. "Promoting evaluation capacity building in a complex adaptive system," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 53-60.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:69:y:2018:i:c:p:53-60
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2018.04.005
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149718917301131
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2018.04.005?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dyehouse, Melissa & Bennett, Deborah & Harbor, Jon & Childress, Amy & Dark, Melissa, 2009. "A comparison of linear and systems thinking approaches for program evaluation illustrated using the Indiana Interdisciplinary GK-12," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 187-196, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sarah Chapman & Adiilah Boodhoo & Carren Duffy & Suki Goodman & Maria Michalopoulou, 2023. "Theory of Change in Complex Research for Development Programmes: Challenges and Solutions from the Global Challenges Research Fund," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(2), pages 298-322, April.
    2. Morrow, Nathan & Nkwake, Apollo M., 2016. "Conclusion: Agency in the face of complexity and the future of assumption-aware evaluation practice," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 154-160.
    3. McConnell, Jesse, 2019. "Adoption for adaptation: A theory-based approach for monitoring a complex policy initiative," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 214-223.
    4. Kirsi Hyttinen & Sampsa Ruutu & Mika Nieminen & Faiz Gallouj & Marja Toivonen, 2014. "A system dynamic and multi-criteria evaluation of innovations in environmental services," ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(3), pages 29-52.
    5. Morell, Jonathan A., 2018. "Systematic iteration between model and methodology: A proposed approach to evaluating unintended consequences," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 243-252.
    6. Hassmiller Lich, Kristen & Urban, Jennifer Brown & Frerichs, Leah & Dave, Gaurav, 2017. "Extending systems thinking in planning and evaluation using group concept mapping and system dynamics to tackle complex problems," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 254-264.
    7. Trevion S. Henderson & Jessica O. Michel & Alex Bryan & Emily Canosa & Clara Gamalski & Kelly Jones & Jeremy Moghtader, 2022. "An Exploration of the Relationship between Sustainability-Related Involvement and Learning in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, May.
    8. Gates, Emily F., 2016. "Making sense of the emerging conversation in evaluation about systems thinking and complexity science," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 62-73.
    9. Kirsi Hyytinen & Sampsa Ruutur & Mika Nieminen & Faïz Gallouj & Marja Toivonen, 2014. "Evaluation of services linked to the sustainability: a dynamic and multi-criteria approach," Post-Print hal-01111817, HAL.
    10. Guerra-López, Ingrid & Toker, Sacip, 2012. "An application of the Impact Evaluation Process for designing a performance measurement and evaluation framework in K-12 environments," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 222-235.
    11. Kirsi Hyytinen & Faïz Gallouj & Marja Toivonen, 2014. "A multi-criteria and multi-actor perspective for the evaluation of sustainability services," Post-Print halshs-01133963, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:69:y:2018:i:c:p:53-60. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/evalprogplan .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.