Values-Based Adaptation in Complexity: The Power of Principles-Focused Developmental Evaluation

By Nora F. Murphy Johnson, PhD

I recently wrote a blog post titled “Developmental Evaluation for Social Justice: An Overview”. The truth is, I haven’t done a straight-up developmental evaluation in 10 years. I conducted my first principles-focused developmental evaluation in 2012 and since then, I’ve been hooked. There is no going back. Let me explain.

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Principles-Focused Developmental Evaluation is a specific approach to evaluation that combines two key concepts: principles-focused evaluation and developmental evaluation.

Developmental Evaluation (DE): This is an approach suitable for innovative programs and initiatives in complex or uncertain environments. Developmental evaluation supports program or organizational development by embedding evaluation into the initiative as a design and strategic learning process. It’s especially useful when traditional evaluation methods are inadequate due to the emergent, innovative nature of a program.

Principles-Focused Evaluation(P-FE): This approach is grounded in the idea that clear, meaningful principles guide program design and implementation. Evaluators using this method focus on whether principles are relevant…