Evaluation Use

Evaluation use, or evaluation utilization, occurs when evaluation information in the form of findings, or evaluation practice, has influence on the actions or thoughts of stakeholders. Typically, evaluation use is differentiated from evaluation influence more generally. The former refers to situations within the direct domain of the evaluator (e.g., the program being evaluated). The two main types of evaluation use discussed in the literature are instrumental use (direct actions) and conceptual use (changes in thinking). In addition to use of findings, the evaluation process itself may have impact, instrumental or conceptual.