Evaluator Competency Domains

1.0 Professional Practice

The competent evaluator...

Acts ethically through evaluation practice that demonstrates integrity and respects people from different cultural backgrounds and indigenous groups.
Applies the foundational documents adopted by the American Evaluation Association that ground evaluation practice.
Selects evaluation approaches and theories appropriately.
Uses systematic evidence to make evaluative judgments.
Reflects on evaluation formally or informally to improve practice.
Identifies personal areas of professional competence and needs for growth.
Pursues ongoing professional development to deepen reflective practice, stay current, and build connections.
Identifies how evaluation practice can promote social justice and the public good.
Advocates for the field of evaluation and its value.

The competent evaluator...

Identifies evaluation purposes and needs.
Determines evaluation questions.
Designs credible and feasible evaluations that address identified purposes and questions.
Determines and justifies appropriate methods to answer evaluation questions, e.g., quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.
Identifies assumptions that underlie methodologies and program logic.
Conducts reviews of the literature when appropriate.
Identifies relevant sources of evidence and sampling procedures.
Involves stakeholders in designing, implementing, interpreting, and reporting evaluations as appropriate.
Uses program logic and program theory as appropriate.
Collects data using credible, feasible, and culturally appropriate procedures.
Analyzes data using credible, feasible, and culturally appropriate procedures.
Identifies strengths and limitations of the evaluation design and methods.
Interprets findings/results in context.
Uses evidence and interpretations to draw conclusions, making judgments and recommendations when appropriate.

The competent evaluator...

Responds respectfully to the uniqueness of the evaluation context.
Engages a diverse range of users/stakeholders throughout the evaluation process.
Describes the program, including its basic purpose. components, and its functioning in broader contexts.
Attends to systems issues within the context.
Communicates evaluation processes and results in timely, appropriate, and effective ways.
Facilitates shared understanding of the program and its evaluation with stakeholders.
Clarifies diverse perspectives, stakeholders' interests, and cultutral assumptions.
Promotes evaluation use and influence in context.

The competent evaluator...

Negotiates and manages a feasible evaluation plan, budget, resources, and timeline.
Addresses aspects of culture in planning and managing evaluations.
Manages and safeguards evaluation data.
Plans for evaluation use and influence.
Coordinates and supervises evaluation processes and products.
Documents evaluation processes and products.
Teams with others when appropriate.
Monitors evaluation progress and quality and makes adjustments when appropriate.
Works with stakeholders to build evaluation capacity appropriate.
Uses technology appropriately to support and manage the evaluation.

The competent evaluator...

Fosters positive relationships for professional practice and evaluation use.
Listens to understand and engage different perspectives.
Facilitates shared decision-making for evaluation.
Builds trust throughout the evaluation.
Attends to the ways power and privilege affect evaluation practice.
Communicates in meaningful ways that enhance the effectiveness of the evaluation.
Facilitates constructive and culturally responsive interaction throughout the evaluation.
Manages conflicts constructively.