Our names are Brianna Hooks Singletary, ‘Malitšitso Moteane, and Tyler Clark. We are three Black, cisgender, female doctoral candidates in the UNC Greensboro Educational Research Methodology department specializing in Program Evaluation. We recognize that our experiences in the field are often influenced by our positionality and as graduate students, we find value in acknowledging those experiences.
In learning the foundations of evaluation, we were introduced to the Alkin and Christie (2004; 2008) evaluation theory tree, which we noticed had very few people who looked like us. Several scholars have examined the lack of representation within evaluation theory and this revisionist history of evaluation, for example the Nobody Knows my Name project and the Black History Month AEA blog posts. This lack of representation of evaluators of color in the education of evaluation often makes it hard for students of color to understand how their background and experiences can contribute to the field. For our study, we chose to examine our experiences as Black female students in higher education learning about evaluation theory and practice through individual reflections, focus groups and reflective journals. Specifically we reflected on what evaluation theory is, how it was introduced to us, when it was introduced and what elements stayed with us beyond the classes. We first reflected independently before coming together as a group to reflect on our experiences learning about evaluation theory. Our hope is to bring awareness to challenges experienced by students of color and to encourage deeper reflection on evaluation pedagogy and practice.
Ultimately, we found that as Black women we struggled to connect with evaluation theory. The inclusion of black theorists in the education of evaluation theory and practice is often limited. The international “diverse” version of the tree still only included 5 Black women, all of whom are located on the social justice branch. To add evaluation terminology is not used in consistent ways. We often struggled to differentiate a theory from a model, framework or an approach. We found that when learning about evaluation theory our introduction to evaluators of color was only emphasized outside of introductory (mainstream) evaluation courses. Although our own program does a great job of exposing us to theorists of color in our required Culturally Responsive Evaluation (CRE) course and as guest speakers in advanced classes, we found that the order of introduction to evaluation theories in introductory evaluation classes and the CRE class created a division and implied hierarchy between mainstream evaluation theory and CRE was a fundamental issue.
As we prepare to accommodate, acknowledge, and affirm new and different voices in the field of research on evaluation, here are some hot tips for future evaluation formal graduate training and informal professional development:
- When discussing evaluation theory, provide space for students to engage critically. Use evaluation theory trees to engage with students in critical conversations on the erasure and exclusions of Black and Brown theorists. Provide space for students to research and learn more about the contributions of Black and Brown scholars in the field.
- Go beyond “checking the boxes” when discussing discourse around evaluation theory.
- Read about the contributions from Black and Brown theorists such as Asa Hillard, Ambrose Caliver, Reid Jackson, and Rose Butler Brown.
- Invite contemporary Black and Brown theorists to speak to students.
The American Evaluation Association is hosting Research on Evaluation (ROE) Topical Interest Group Week. The contributions all this week to AEA365 come from our ROE TIG members. Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this AEA365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the AEA365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an AEA365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to AEA365@eval.org. AEA365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluators. The views and opinions expressed on the AEA365 blog are solely those of the original authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the American Evaluation Association, and/or any/all contributors to this site.