Michael Quinn Patton is author of more than a dozen books on evaluation including Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods, 4th ed (2015), Blue Marble Evaluation (2020), Principles-Focused Evaluation (2018), Facilitating Evaluation (2018) and Developmental Evaluation (2011). Based in Minnesota, he was on the faculty of the University of Minnesota for 18 years and is a former president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). Michael is a recipient of the Alva and Gunnar Myrdal Evaluation Practice Award, the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Evaluation Theory Award, and the Research on Evaluation Award, all from AEA He has also received the Lester F. Ward Distinguished Contribution to Applied and Clinical Sociology Award from the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology. In 2021 he received the first Transformative Evaluator Award from EvalYouth. He is an active speaker, trainer, and workshop presenter who has conducted applied research and evaluation on a broad range of issues and has worked with organizations and programs at the international, national, state, provincial, and local levels. Michael has three children-a musician, an engineer, and an evaluator-and four grandchildren. When not evaluating, he enjoys exploring the woods and rivers of Minnesota, where he lives.

Volume Editors' Introduction
Preface
About the Author
PART A. THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EVALUATION FACILITATOR
Context: My Facilitation Experience and Perspective
What Facilitators Do
What Is Evaluation?
Chapter 1. The Niche of Evaluation Facilitation
Facilitating the What Is Evaluation Task Force
The Results of Facilitation
Facilitation as White-Water Navigating
Evaluation Facilitation as a Distinct Form of Facilitation
Facilitation Lessons
Ten Resources for Explaining and Getting Started in Evaluation
Chapter 2. Facilitating Evaluation to Enhance Use
Evaluation Facilitation
Evaluation Facilitation Scenarios
Variations in the Need for Facilitation
Being Active, Reactive, Interactive, and Adaptive
Facilitation Lessons
Facilitation Resources for Skill Assessment and Development
Chapter 3. The Overarching Principle of Evaluation Facilitation: Be Utilization-Focused
Why Use Principles-Focused Evaluation Facilitation
GUIDE Dimensions of the Utilization-Focused Principle
Summary
Facilitation Lessons
Additional Resources
PART B. FIVE OPERATING PRINCIPLES FOR FACILITATING EVALUATION
Quick Review
Overarching Versus Operating Principles
The Evaluation Facilitation Brittle Star
Chapter 4. Be Guided by the Personal Factor: The First Operating Principle
The Personal Factor
GUIDE Dimensions of the Personal Factor Principle
Effective Practices for Facilitating Evaluation
Facilitation Lessons
Summary
Resources for Applying the Personal Factor Principle
Chapter 5. Engage Through Options: The Second Operating Principle
Research on Deciding Among Options
What Makes Evaluation Decision Making Challenging for Stakeholders
Myriad of Choices
GUIDE Dimensions of the Engage Through Options Principle
Facilitation Lessons
Summary
Tools and Resources for Facilitating Engagement With Options
Chapter 6. Observe, Interpret, and Adapt: The Third Operating Principle
Adopting an Observation Mindset
Adapting in Real Time
Adaptive Action as a Framework for Evaluation Facilitation
GUIDE Criteria for the Observe, Interpret, Adapt Principle
Facilitation Lessons
Summary
Resources to Support Observation, Interpretation, and Adaptation
Chapter 7. Embed Evaluative Thinking Throughout: The Fourth Operating Principle
Evaluative Thinking
GUIDE Criteria for the Evaluative Thinking Principle
Facilitation Lessons
Summary
Additional Resources to Support Facilitating Evaluative Thinking
Chapter 8. Invigorate With Leading-Edge Inputs: The Fifth Operating Principle
Facilitating at the Leading Edge
GUIDE Criteria for the Leading-Edge Principle
Summary
Leading-Edge Tools and Resources
Chapter 9. Principles-Focused Evaluation Facilitation: Conclusion and a Look Forward
Central Theme of the Book
Integrating the Principles
Integrating Principles in Practice
Situation Recognition and Evaluation Facilitation
Graphic Recording for Evaluation Facilitation
Some Issues Not Addressed in This Book
The Future of Evaluation Facilitation
Final Offering of Resources to Expand Your Evaluation Facilitation Horizons
Other Frameworks for Evaluation Facilitation
References
Index