Discusses ethical considerations in program evaluation, including confidentiality, informed consent, and conflicts of interest. Explains how to ensure that program evaluation is conducted ethically.
Ethical principles and values: This topic covers the fundamental ethical principles and values that guide ethical behavior in program evaluation, such as honesty, fairness, respect, and responsibility.
Ethics codes and standards: This topic explores the various codes of ethics and standards that govern program evaluators' conduct, such as the American Evaluation Association's Guiding Principles and the International Evaluation Standards.
Ethical dilemmas in program evaluation: This topic covers the most common ethical dilemmas that arise in program evaluation, such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality concerns, and the appropriate use of data.
Informed consent: This topic explores the importance of obtaining informed consent from participants in program evaluation to ensure their rights are respected, and the results are reliable and ethical.
Stakeholder engagement and participation: This topic covers the ethical considerations involved in engaging stakeholders in program evaluation, such as ensuring their interests are represented and protecting their privacy.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion: This topic explores the ethical responsibility of program evaluators to consider cultural and linguistic diversity, promote equity, and ensure inclusion in program evaluation.
Social justice and evaluation: This topic covers the intersection of ethics, evaluation, and social justice, emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic inequalities and power imbalances in program evaluation.
Data collection and analysis: This topic explores the ethical considerations involved in collecting and analyzing data for program evaluation, such as ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data and protecting participants' privacy.
Reporting and dissemination of evaluation results: This topic covers the ethical considerations involved in reporting and disseminating evaluation results, such as balancing transparency with confidentiality and avoiding misinterpretation or misrepresentation of data.
Evaluation capacity building: This topic explores the ethical considerations involved in building evaluation capacity in public administration, such as promoting ethical conduct and the use of evidence-based practices in program evaluation.
Utilitarian Ethics: Focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number of stakeholders. Program evaluation should aim to maximize the benefits and minimize the harm for the most number of people.
Deontological Ethics: Focuses on fulfilling moral duties and following moral rules in evaluating programs. Program evaluation should follow principles such as honesty, transparency, and respect for the rights and dignity of stakeholders.
Virtue Ethics: Emphasizes ethical qualities such as honesty, empathy, and fairness that individuals should cultivate and exhibit in their evaluations. Program evaluators should have a virtuous character that embodies these qualities.
Feminine Ethics: Emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and relationships in evaluating programs. Program evaluation should be conducted in an inclusive, empathetic, and supportive manner that recognizes the multiple perspectives and experiences of stakeholders.
Postmodern Ethics: Recognizes the social and cultural contexts that shape program evaluation and emphasizes the need to consider diverse and conflicting values and interests. Program evaluation should be conducted in a critical and reflective manner that recognizes the power dynamics and inequalities that impact program implementation and evaluation.