Definitions, Methods, and Strategies to Examine Engagement: Progress and Future Directions for Research on Evaluation

Dr. Esther Nolton of Everstead Strategies co-authored this journal article in collaboration with colleagues Drs. Tatiana Bustos and Jessica Saucedo.

Engagement is regarded as a core practice that can enhance the quality, utility, and relevance of evaluation. However, more research is needed to provide empirical guidance on designing effective engagement approaches for various communities. Expanding on a prior systematic review, this scoping review examined the current empirical landscape and knowledge gaps of RoE on engagement to (a) identify how engagement has been defined to clarify key concepts, (b) describe methodological and contextual characteristics of studies used to examine engagement, and (c) characterize engagement strategies utilized. Twenty-seven studies were included and coded for synthesis. Based on the review's findings, recommendations to drive future RoE agendas should (a) develop standards for empirical examinations of engagement, (b) determine conditions for successful partner selection, (c) measure engagement outcomes, and (d) apply innovative RoE methods and designs to broaden the empirical basis. Advancing these focus areas can address persistent gaps in RoE on engagement and strengthen the impact of evaluations that can foster meaningful community collaborations.

This journal article was published as part of the “Moving Research on Evaluation Forward” issue of the New Directions for Evaluation journal. It is available open access here.