Table.

Strategies to Increase Program Evaluation Use

Strategy	Description	Examples of What to Do
Engage evaluation users	Evaluation users (ie, those who can use the evaluation findings and processes) can recommend major evaluation questions that are relevant and lead to usable information. They can also increase the credibility of a program evaluation and ensure that themselves as well as other users view the program evaluation as trustworthy and thus usable.	In planning an evaluation ask users: What is the purpose of the evaluation? What major questions should be the focus? How will you use the findings and processes? Once evaluation data is collected ask: How would you interpret and use the information? What did you learn from the processes that may be helpful for future evaluations? What reporting strategies would ensure others use the findings and processes? Are there any new potential uses for the collected information? What findings and processes should be used immediately, and by who and how?
Select an evaluation approach that facilitates evaluation use	The engagement of evaluation users in an evaluation increases their commitment to its use.5 Selected evaluation approaches require such engagement and thus increase evaluation use.	Use a participatory evaluation13,14 or utilization-focused evaluation approach.15
Anticipate and prepare for barriers to evaluation use	There are many hurdles that can hinder evaluation use, including a lack of trust in the evaluators and evaluation processes, the perceived relevance and credibility of evaluation reports, a lack of resources or power to use evaluation findings or processes, and receptiveness to negative findings or openness to change.16	Throughout the evaluation ask users: Why might you not use the evaluation? What resources do you need to better use the evaluation, and can these resources be budgeted into the evaluation itself? How can we engage you in the evaluation so that you can have faith in its credibility?
Use action-oriented reporting	Action-oriented evaluation reporting uses creativity to focus attention on important findings and processes and how to use them. It tailors the information to the evaluation users and emphasizes information that is a priority for use.17	Those responsible for the evaluation can communicate about it using: One-page fact sheets Town halls Social media postings Podcasts Webinars
Disseminate on evaluation use	When disseminating a program evaluation, it is important to note the findings but also how the team and others used or plan to use the findings as well what process use occurred as a result of the evaluation.	When disseminating a program evaluation: Describe how the evaluation was intended to be used Explain how and why the evaluation was used (or not used) Explain what type(s) of process use occurred because of an evaluation of a specific program Share why evaluation use is not occurring within your context