• Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The practice of evaluative reasoning in the Aotearoa New Zealand public sector : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

    Icon
    View/Open Full Text
    01_front.pdf (109.5Kb)
    02_whole.pdf (871.4Kb)
    Abstract
    This study argues that sound evaluative reasoning, defined as “the systematic means for arriving at evaluative conclusions . . . the principles that support inferences drawn by evaluators” (Fournier, 1995, p.1), is an essential element of evaluation quality. As such, evaluative reasoning is a lens through which to consider how to improve the quality of evaluations undertaken or commissioned by the Aotearoa New Zealand public sector. The argument is grounded in the theory of evaluation derived from western philosophy, specifically, informal logic. This theory underpins the conceptualisation and design of this study examining how evaluative reasoning is understood and practised by professionals who undertake public sector evaluation in Aotearoa New Zealand. A multiple method research design is used to generate diverse understandings of the topic and offer opportunities for abductive thinking. The methods used are Q methodology, metaevaluation, and key informant interviews with local and international evaluation experts. The findings from this study point to three ways in which evaluative reasoning has an impact on the quality of evaluation. It increases the robustness of the reasoning chain from value claim to evaluative conclusion/judgment; underpins the professional competencies required of evaluation practitioners; and reinforces the ethical dimensions of evaluation practice in a public sector context. Lastly, two abductively-derived conjectures point evaluators toward diverse ways of knowing in their reasoning from evaluative claim to evaluative conclusion/judgment. Amplifying the work of previous theorists, it is suggested that expert intuition and abductive inference provide further paths of evaluative knowing in addition to inductive logic and probative inference.
    Date
    2016
    Author
    Nunns, Heather
    Rights
    The Author
    Publisher
    Massey University
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10179/12444
    Collections
    • Theses and Dissertations
    Metadata
    Show full item record

    Copyright © 2018 Massey University
    Contact Us | Send Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-14.09.11
     

     

    Tweets by @Massey_Research
    Information PagesContent PolicyDepositing content to MROCopyright and Access InformationDeposit LicenseDeposit License SummaryTheses FAQFile Formats

    Browse

    All of MROCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Copyright © 2018 Massey University
    Contact Us | Send Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-14.09.11