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Dealing with distrust and power dynamics: asymmetric relations among stakeholders in responsive evaluation
- Authors:
- BAUR Vivianne E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Evaluation, 16(3), July 2010, pp.233-248.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Asymmetric relations among stakeholders create challenges in participatory evaluation processes. The aim of responsive evaluation is to include the issues of as many stakeholder groups as possible in the evaluation by engaging them in evaluative interaction. However, power and conflict may hinder equal and genuine communication about the value of the practices evaluated. This article discusses the use of a specific interpretation of responsive evaluation as an approach to foster dialogues among stakeholders in politically laden contexts. It aims to illustrate how asymmetric relations can be dealt with constructively, focusing on inclusion of marginalised groups, mutual learning and good dialogue. The article uses two reflective case narratives, conducted in a residential elderly care setting and in a psychiatric hospital, as examples of responsive evaluation projects in settings with marginalised groups. These case studies illustrate the changing, active roles of responsive evaluators. Both evaluation settings shed light on how to go about making social relations among stakeholders and the evaluator ‘the point’ in evaluation, and how to exploit these relations constructively in order to establish practice improvements.