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Evaluation as a social practice: Disenchantment, rationalities and ethics

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  • Picciotto, Robert

Abstract

We live in an age where evaluation is omnipresent. However, as a social practice, it has become hard to distinguish from auditing, inspection, quality assurance and other means of social control. As a result, the evaluation occupation is now widely viewed as intrusive and burdensome – a self-serving commercial enterprise. Yet, evaluation at its creation was conceived (or perhaps imagined) as a vocation devoted to the public good. This article probes the root causes of the spreading disenchantment; puts Weber’s logic of social action to work; and puts his rationalities concepts to work to explore the ethical and professional challenges currently faced by the evaluation community.

Suggested Citation

  • Picciotto, Robert, 2021. "Evaluation as a social practice: Disenchantment, rationalities and ethics," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:87:y:2021:i:c:s0149718921000227
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.101927
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Parker, Martin, 2018. "Shut Down the Business School," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780745399171, June.
    3. Picciotto, Robert, 2019. "Is evaluation obsolete in a post-truth world?," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 88-96.
    4. Gloria Regonini, 2017. "Governmentalities without policy capacity," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 50(2), pages 163-178, June.
    5. Campbell, Donald T., 1979. "Assessing the impact of planned social change," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 2(1), pages 67-90, January.
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