cross cultural issues in evaluation
How evaluators see the world is informed by their own cultural background and experiences. Therefore, it is critical that evaluators are conscious of cultural issues that may influence how they, funders and stakeholders understand and view programs and services. This is especially true when evaluating in communities of a different culture.
This page contains links to guidelines to ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research, as well as papers and reports on cultural issues.
ethical guidelines
Values and ethics: guidelines for ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research
This document provides guidelines for ethical health research on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In accordance with guidance from Indigenous Australians, it is written around a framework of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values and principles.
Sayre K 2002, Guidelines and best practices for culturally competent evaluations, The ColoradoTrust, Denver, CO
These guidelines were developed in the United States based on two half day workshops with evaluators, which asked how evaluators know whether the measurements tools they use apply equally across different cultural and ethnic groups. The guidelines provide many useful examples to discuss concepts and challenges, including differences in use of language, cultural concepts and norms, understanding of the meaning of behaviour etc. across cultural groups.
papers & reports
The papers and reports below discuss cross cultural issues and means of addressing them when conducting evaluations:
Hopson R 2003, Overview of multicultural and culturally competent program evaluation: Issues, challenges and opportunities, Duquesne University & Social Policy Research Associates, Oakland, CA
This paper reflects on the history and significance of the “movement” to incorporate multiculturalism and cultural competence into the field of evaluation. It discusses five basic tenets of culturally competent program evaluation.
Kelly J, 2006, ‘Urban Aboriginal women and health services: Evaluating health care together’, AES International Conference, Darwin, Australia, 4 – 7 September 2006
This conference presentation discusses effective ways of conducting evaluation in Indigenous communities, focussing on an investigation of ways to improve Aboriginal women’s health and wellbeing.
Letiecq B & Bailey SJ 2004, ‘Evaluating from the outside: conducting cross-cultural evaluation research on an American Indian reservation,’ Evaluation Review, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 342-357
In this article, the authors discuss challenges in their efforts to be culturally appropriate and sensitive, as they partner with an American Indian community to implement and evaluate a youth-based initiative.
Lee, K 2007, The importance of culture in evaluation: a practical guide for evaluators, The Colorado Trust, Colorado
This report provides information and discussion to help guide evaluations involving evaluators, funders and stakeholders of different cultures. Chapters include discussion on culture, social identity and group membership, privilege and power.
Scougall J 2006, Reconciling tensions between principles and practice in Indigenous evaluation, Evaluation Journal of Australasia, vol. 6 (new series) no. 2, pp. 49 – 55
This paper reflects on very real tensions between cross cultural evaluation principles and practice in Indigenous communities. It explores these issues from the perspective of the national evaluation of the Australian Government’s Stronger Families and Communities Strategy.
Wehipeihana N 2008, ‘Indigenous evaluation: A strategic objective of the Australasian Evaluation Society, Evaluation Journal of Australasia, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 40 – 44
This article provides information about factors leading to emergence of Indigenous evaluation as a strategic objective of the Australasian Evaluation Society. It describes the activities and progress for the period 2004–2007 and identifies possible strategies to further progress Indigenous evaluation.
