Reflecting the tremendous explosion of interest in this vital area of the evaluation process, this volume recognizes that deciding what to evaluate is a complex negotiation process that involves the methodological predisposition of the evaluator and the client, client needs, the nature of the program, and the constraints surrounding the evaluation.

How to Focus an Evaluation details five models that characterize different methodological approaches: experimental, goal-oriented, decision-focused, user oriented, and responsive approaches. The text provides valuable advice on how and what type of information to collect from a client; how to clarify and prioritize evaluation concerns; and how to formulate a plan that matches evaluation concerns with appropriate data collection procedures within given cost constraints.