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Contexts and Constraints: An Analysis of the Evolution of Evaluation in Ireland with Particular Reference to the Education System

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Title: Contexts and Constraints: An Analysis of the Evolution of Evaluation in Ireland with Particular Reference to the Education System
Language: English
Authors: O'Hara, Joe, McNamara, Gerry, Boyle, Richard, Sullivan, Connor
Source: Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation. Jul 2007 4(7):75-83.
Availability: Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University. 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5237. Tel: 269-387-5895; Fax: 269-387-5923; e-mail: eval-center@wmich.edu; Web site: http://jmde.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 9
Publication Date: 2007
Document Type: Journal Articles
Descriptors: Quality Control, Educational Change, Foreign Countries, Public Sector, Educational Policy, Case Studies, Public Education, Educational Assessment, Context Effect, Evaluation Research, Performance Factors, Educational Development
Geographic Terms: Ireland
ISSN: 1556-8180
Abstract: This paper is a case study of the emergence of an evaluation culture in the public sector and particularly in education in Ireland over the past three decades. It suggests that the emergence of this culture was strongly influenced by external factors, particularly the European Union (EU), and to a lesser but significant degree, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It is posited that without these external influences no culture of evaluation would have emerged. It is further suggested that even after three decades the continuation of systematic evaluation is still probably dependent on external forces, since a belief in or commitment to evaluation as a tool of governance has not taken hold among key policy makers in Ireland. A second point is that, while evaluation practice in Ireland was at first largely concentrated around EU funded projects and economic transfers, in more recent times evaluation has migrated to programmes and policies. In particular, it has become an element of the quality assurance processes institutionalised as part of the "reform agenda" of the public service. Finally, the paper makes the point that an evaluation culture in a particular country--in this case, Ireland, but the same applies elsewhere--is significantly contextualised and influenced by the constraints of existing ideologies, traditions, practices and relationships between different interest groups. Thus, in Ireland, in line with the corporatist and partnership-driven approaches to economic policy and industrial relations which have been dominant in the past two decades, the form of evaluation which has emerged is consensual, collaborative and negotiated.
Abstractor: ERIC
Number of References: 27
Entry Date: 2008
Access URL: https://survey.ate.wmich.edu/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/issue/view/23
Accession Number: EJ800170
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Contexts and Constraints: An Analysis of the Evolution of Evaluation in Ireland with Particular Reference to the Education System
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  Data: Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University. 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5237. Tel: 269-387-5895; Fax: 269-387-5923; e-mail: eval-center@wmich.edu; Web site: http://jmde.com
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  Data: This paper is a case study of the emergence of an evaluation culture in the public sector and particularly in education in Ireland over the past three decades. It suggests that the emergence of this culture was strongly influenced by external factors, particularly the European Union (EU), and to a lesser but significant degree, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It is posited that without these external influences no culture of evaluation would have emerged. It is further suggested that even after three decades the continuation of systematic evaluation is still probably dependent on external forces, since a belief in or commitment to evaluation as a tool of governance has not taken hold among key policy makers in Ireland. A second point is that, while evaluation practice in Ireland was at first largely concentrated around EU funded projects and economic transfers, in more recent times evaluation has migrated to programmes and policies. In particular, it has become an element of the quality assurance processes institutionalised as part of the "reform agenda" of the public service. Finally, the paper makes the point that an evaluation culture in a particular country--in this case, Ireland, but the same applies elsewhere--is significantly contextualised and influenced by the constraints of existing ideologies, traditions, practices and relationships between different interest groups. Thus, in Ireland, in line with the corporatist and partnership-driven approaches to economic policy and industrial relations which have been dominant in the past two decades, the form of evaluation which has emerged is consensual, collaborative and negotiated.
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 9
        StartPage: 75
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Quality Control
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public Sector
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Case Studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Assessment
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      – SubjectFull: Context Effect
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Evaluation Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Performance Factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ireland
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Contexts and Constraints: An Analysis of the Evolution of Evaluation in Ireland with Particular Reference to the Education System
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