Session 1 - Evaluation Science with Michael Quinn Patton

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For more information, please look at the flyer below, and the description of the topic, as well as details about the speaker below: 

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About the Topic: Evaluation Science addresses the evolving body of knowledge that underpins effective and credible evaluation practice. In this session, Michael Quinn Patton will explore the foundations of evaluation as a scientific discipline—what constitutes quality evidence, how methodological choices influence use, and why evaluation must adapt to complexity, uncertainty, and systems change.

Participants will delve into how evaluation science informs the credibility, utility, and influence of evaluations in real-world settings. The session will cover key themes such as principles-based evaluation, adaptive methods, and the nexus between evidence and decision-making. Drawing on decades of global experience, Patton will offer thought-provoking reflections and forward-looking insights, making this an unmissable session for anyone working to advance evaluation culture and practice.

For more information on Evaluation Science, see:

1. American Journal of Evaluation, (2018). Evaluation Science
2. YouTube video on Evaluation options: https://youtu.be/lDaYIuT4M14

About the Speaker: Michael Quinn Patton is a globally recognised leader in the field of evaluation. He is the founder and director of Utilization-Focused Evaluation, a paradigm that emphasises designing evaluations that are actually used by decision-makers. With over five decades of experience, Patton has conducted evaluations at local, national, and international levels across diverse sectors including education, health, environment, and development cooperation. He has served as President of the American Evaluation Association and is a founding board member of the International Evaluation Academy.

Patton is the author of numerous seminal books and articles, including Utilization-Focused Evaluation (2008), Developmental Evaluation (2010), and Blue Marble Evaluation (2020), which proposes a new approach to evaluating global systems transformation. His contributions have fundamentally shaped evaluation practice worldwide, earning him multiple prestigious awards, including the Lazarsfeld Award for Lifetime Contributions to Evaluation Theory.

You can access some of his work via the following websites: 

• Utilization-Focused Evaluation website
• Blue Marble Evaluation overview