Synthesising Research on Evaluation from 2015-2019: Values inquiry, ethics and evaluation use

In 2020, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and Western Michigan University commenced a systematic review of research on evaluation for the period 2015-19, replicating the landmark review led by Professor Chris Coryn (2017). In 2022, the University of Melbourne joined the team to support the systematic review, focussing primarily on reviewing research conducted in Australasia, including but not limited to articles published in the Evaluation Journal of Australasia.
Along with supporting the systematic review, student researchers led three nested reviews of the research on values, valuing, ethics and evaluation use in the public sector through their Master of Evaluation studies.
In this panel, we will present the findings of the nested reviews and then members will reflect on the implications of the findings. Panel members will present the results of their work focussing on the following questions:
• What implications do the findings of the review raise for evaluation research and practice?
• What has the research told us about the importance of values and valuing in relation to evaluation theories, methods, or practices?
• How have the findings of your research influenced and / or informed your own practice in evaluation?
Kat Franks
Kat has a background in business operations, developing grant programs, managing research centres, and client service. She has experience working in government funded organisations and non-government sectors including academic research, consultancy, and design. Kat is currently completing a Masters of Evaluation at the University of Melbourne and working in evaluation at an agency of government.
Stephanie White (she/her)
Stephanie came to evaluation after years working in education research, policy and practice in the government and non-government sectors. She led projects in early childhood education, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, student engagement school improvement and, most recently, student wellbeing. Stephanie is a Senior Evaluation Officer at the Victoria Department of Education and is undertaking a Masters of Evaluation at the University of Melbourne.
Hannah Morgan (she/her)
Hannah is a qualified social worker with experience in mental health, disability and LGBTIQ+ health. Most recently she has worked in project management, coordinating national projects focused on LGBTIQ+ health and palliative care research. She is currently working as an evaluator at the Black Dog Institute - Australia’s only medical research institute investigating mental health across the lifespan. Hannah is currently completing a Masters in Evaluation at the University of Melbourne.
Katina Tan
Katina is a Research Fellow at the Teacher and Teaching Effectiveness (TaTE) Hub at the University of Melbourne. She is an education researcher, and qualified finance professional. Katina has more than 15 years of corporate experience spanning strategic and operational finance, assurance, and consultancy. She then decided to pursue her passion in education and research and is now doing her doctoral studies on student engagement. As a researcher and a former CFO, Katina’s evaluation interest is investigating the nexus between theory and practice, particularly in educational contexts.
Ruth Aston
Ruth Aston is a Senior Lecturer at the Assessment and Evaluation Research Centre. With a passion for understanding how effective action on the social determinants of health and education can be taken, Dr Aston came to the University of Melbourne from University of Auckland in NZ with a background in public health and health services research, to specialise and undertake PhD research in program evaluation. Ruth’s research areas include both educational evaluation and health promotion in schools, she is currently working on several evaluations of educational initiatives including the Early Learning Teaching Pilot of explicit instruction in the NT and VIC, the No Limits literacy intervention in the Mornington Peninsula, the evaluation of the Health Promoting Schools Pilot training program in VIC, and the evaluation of the VicHealth Local Government Partnership with over 30 local councils in Victoria. She holds an honorary fellow position at the Centre for Adolescent Health at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
This free event was organised by the AES Victoria Regional Network.