The Evaluation Handbook

“This is the kind of book that I wish had existed when I was new to evaluation. It masterfully covers major concepts in the field, with an eye toward the practical. Many of the easy-to-understand chapters offer examples, tools, or checklists to help put the ideas into practice. This book will be a valuable addition to the required reading for students in our certificate, master’s, and doctoral programs. It lives up to its promise as an evaluator’s companion.”–Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead, PhD, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut “This handbook will be essential reading for all my graduate students in evaluation and applied research! Each chapter is written by well-respected evaluation legends, who offer many practical tools, insights, and proven strategies for enhancing the professional practice of evaluation. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned professional, this resource will elevate your work and thinking about evaluation.”–Tiffany Berry, PhD, Dean and Professor, School of Social Science, Policy, and Evaluation, Claremont Graduate University “Framed by the American Evaluation Association’s Evaluator Competencies, this comprehensive handbook unpacks key components, responsibilities, and issues that are unique to the practice of evaluation. Students, emerging evaluators, and instructors will appreciate the concrete examples, detailed illustrations, and practical advice that bring each foundational topic to life and provide expert guidance for practice across varying contexts.”–Rebecca M. Teasdale, PhD, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago-

Debra J. Rog, PhD, is CEO and Founder of Evaluation Thought Partners, providing strategic and design help to a range of clients. She retired as Vice President for Social Policy and Economics Research at Westat in 2025. Throughout her career, Dr. Rog has directed numerous evaluation studies of homeless and housing interventions and systems, mental health and substance abuse interventions, public health programs and initiatives, and criminal justice initiatives, among other areas. She is a recognized expert in evaluation practice and applied research design. Dr. Rog is Associate Director for Faculty Affairs at The Evaluators’ Institute and past president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). She has been recognized for her evaluation work by the National Institute of Mental Health, the AEA, the Eastern Evaluation Research Society, and the Knowledge Utilization Society.

Leonard Bickman, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Vanderbilt University and former Director of the Center for Evaluation and Program Improvement at Peabody College. Dr. Bickman is a nationally recognized leader in program evaluation and mental health services research on children and adolescents. He is past president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA) and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Dr. Bickman’s contributions have been recognized with the Outstanding Evaluation Award from the AEA, the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Research in Public Policy from the American Psychological Association, and the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, among other honors.