CPE Stakeholder Engagement & Communication 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of 'dissemination' as distinct from 'communication' in program evaluation?
- Holding a debrief meeting with program staff after data collection
- Publishing an evaluation brief for broad public access on an organization's website (Correct answer)
- Sending a draft report to funders for review
- Discussing preliminary themes with an advisory committee
Correct answer: Publishing an evaluation brief for broad public access on an organization's website
Dissemination refers to proactively spreading findings to broad audiences through accessible products like briefs, toolkits, or publications.
Question 2: A program evaluator is working with a stakeholder group with low health literacy. Which communication adaptation is MOST important?
- Use technical terminology to increase perceived credibility
- Use plain language, visuals, and concrete examples relevant to daily experience (Correct answer)
- Provide all findings in writing to allow for self-paced review
- Focus communication on statistical significance to aid decision-making
Correct answer: Use plain language, visuals, and concrete examples relevant to daily experience
Plain language with visual supports and relatable examples is essential for accessible communication with audiences with low literacy levels.
Question 3: In the AEA Guiding Principles, which principle most directly governs how evaluators should engage with diverse stakeholders?
- Systematic inquiry
- Competence
- Respect for people (Correct answer)
- Responsibilities for general and public welfare
Correct answer: Respect for people
The 'Respect for People' principle requires evaluators to honor the dignity, autonomy, and cultural diversity of all stakeholders.
Question 4: An evaluator is working with a program serving a marginalized population. Stakeholders from that population are absent from decision-making tables. What should the evaluator do?
- Accept the existing stakeholder structure as given by the client
- Advocate for including representatives from the marginalized population in evaluation governance (Correct answer)
- Focus data collection on the population without involving them in design decisions
- Report findings directly to the marginalized population, bypassing program leadership
Correct answer: Advocate for including representatives from the marginalized population in evaluation governance
Evaluators committed to equity advocate for meaningful inclusion of marginalized populations in evaluation governance and decision-making.
Question 5: Which of the following BEST represents a 'two-way communication' model in program evaluation?
- Delivering a final report to stakeholders at the end of the evaluation
- Regularly soliciting stakeholder feedback on evaluation processes and preliminary findings (Correct answer)
- Posting evaluation results on a public website for comment
- Sending progress updates via email newsletter to all stakeholders
Correct answer: Regularly soliciting stakeholder feedback on evaluation processes and preliminary findings
Two-way communication requires active feedback mechanisms where stakeholders can respond to and shape evaluation processes, not just receive information.
Question 6: What is the PRIMARY purpose of a 'stakeholder analysis' at the beginning of a program evaluation?
- To identify who will fund the evaluation
- To understand who has a stake in the evaluation, their interests, and their influence (Correct answer)
- To create a communication schedule for the evaluation team
- To determine which stakeholders will serve as key informants
Correct answer: To understand who has a stake in the evaluation, their interests, and their influence
Stakeholder analysis systematically identifies all parties with interests in the evaluation, their potential influence, and their informational needs.
Question 7: A program evaluation reveals that a popular program is ineffective. How should the evaluator communicate this to politically invested stakeholders?
- Soften findings by emphasizing implementation fidelity over outcomes
- Present findings transparently with contextual explanation and recommendations for program improvement (Correct answer)
- Release findings only to neutral third parties to avoid direct confrontation
- Delay the report until after the program's next funding cycle
Correct answer: Present findings transparently with contextual explanation and recommendations for program improvement
Evaluators must report findings accurately while providing context and constructive recommendations, even when findings challenge stakeholder investments.
CPE Stakeholder Engagement & Communication 4
Which of the following is an example of 'dissemination' as distinct from 'communication' in program evaluation?