Reciprocity

Reciprocity, also known as an exchange relationship, is an interchange of privileges or a give and take in the research or evaluation setting. Mutual trust, respect, and cooperation are necessary to forge a reciprocal relationship between evaluator and stakeholders in which those who are participants in the evaluation find something that they feel makes their cooperation worthwhile. An evaluator who prioritizes forging reciprocity with the evaluation stakeholders can offer useful feedback on the program's processes and products, assistance with some task, access to information, a sense of empowerment for the stakeholders, or even better relations with other stakeholders through the use of group interviews or participatory processes.