Feminist Evaluation and Research: Theory and Practice

by Sharon Brisolara PhD (Editor), Denise Seigart PhD (Editor), Saumitra SenGupta PhD (Editor)

Overview

This thought-provoking book explores the 'whats,' 'whys,' and 'hows' of integrating feminist theory and methods into applied research and evaluation practice. Illustrative cases drawn from U.S. and international studies address a range of social and health issues. The book provides an overview of feminist theory and research strategies as well as detailed discussions of how to use a feminist lens, practical steps and challenges in implementation, and what feminist methods contribute to research and evaluation projects. Reflections at the close of each section invite the reader to consider key questions and common themes across the chapters. With a focus on social justice models, the book covers ways to conduct feminist research and evaluation in effective, innovative, and culturally competent ways in diverse social and cultural contexts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462517909
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	03/31/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Sharon Brisolara, PhD, is a program evaluator and owner of Evaluation Solutions, an evaluation organization located in Northern California. Her interests include feminist evaluation, qualitative research, mixed-methods evaluations, participatory evaluation, and evaluation capacity building. Dr. Brisolara has trained nonprofit professionals and community residents in evaluation skills and teaches sociology at Shasta College and National University.

Denise Seigart, PhD, is an educational consultant specializing in administration and research in college and university settings. She has been a nurse, teacher, administrator, and advocate of feminist evaluation for many years. Dr. Seigart's research interests include feminist and participatory approaches to evaluation of health care services for women and children, for the purpose of fostering community learning.

Saumitra SenGupta, PhD, has worked in mental health services research in California and nationally for over 15 years. He has served in a number of capacities, including as a faculty member of the University of Arizona Medical School and a research psychologist for San Francisco County Mental Health Services. He is currently Director of Information Systems at the California Mental Health External Quality Review Organization in Sacramento. Dr. SenGupta is an expert in quantitative and qualitative research methods and utilizing mental health information systems for such research, and has served as an elected board member of the American Evaluation Association.

Table of Contents

I. Feminist Theory, Research and Evaluation
1. Feminist Theory: Its Domain and Applications, Sharon Brisolara
2. Research and Evaluation: Intersections and Divergence, Sandra Mathison
3. Researcher/Evaluator Roles and Social Justice, Elizabeth Whitmore
4. A Transformative Feminist Stance: Inclusion of Multiple Dimensions of Diversity with Gender, Donna M. Mertens
5. Feminist Evaluation for Nonfeminists, Donna Podems
First Reflection
II. Feminist Evaluation in Practice
6. An Explication of Evaluator Values: Framing Matters, Kathryn Sielbeck-Mathes and Rebecca Selove
7. Fostering Democracy in Angola: A Feminist-Ecological Model for Evaluation, Tristi Nichols
8. Feminist Evaluation in South Asia: Building Bridges of Theory and Practice, Katherine Hay
9. Latin American Feminist Perspectives on Gender Power Issues in Evaluation, Silvia Salinas Mulder and Fabiola Amariles
Second Reflection
III. Feminist Research in Practice
10. Feminist Research and School-Based Health Care: A Three-Country Comparison, Denise Seigart
11. Feminist Research Approaches to Empowerment in Syria, Alessandra Galié
12. Feminist Research Approaches to Studying Sub-Saharan Traditional Midwives, Elaine Dietsch
Final Reflection. Feminist Social Inquiry: Relevance, Relationships, and Responsibility, Jennifer C. Greene
 

Interviews

Applied researchers and evaluators; graduate students and instructors in education, psychology, social work, nursing, public health, sociology, criminal justice, and gender and women's studies. Will serve as a primary or supplemental text in graduate-level courses in research methods, program evaluation, community-based research, and feminist research.

Editorial Reviews

"Suitable for both entry-level and advanced scholars, this book offers an introduction to feminist theory and methodology as utilized within evaluation and research designs across global contexts and a range of social issues. It presents key theories and concepts while addressing the tensions between doing research and evaluation, with a particular focus on social justice models. Concise, thought-provoking editorial comments identify important points of agreement and debate across the chapters. Readers will come away with a clear sense of what feminism looks like in evaluation and research practice and what it can potentially yield, as well as a grasp of the main issues and challenges of using a feminist approach."—Wanda S. Pillow, PhD, Department of Education, Culture, and Society, University of Utah

"Researchers and evaluators will find this text enlightening and useful. Reading this book gave me greater knowledge of and appreciation for feminist theory, research, and evaluation. The editors are quite savvy in addressing feminist evaluation worldwide, rather than focusing entirely on a Western framework. The book incorporates perspectives from a range of geographic and cultural areas currently facing difficult dilemmas regarding gender and ways to achieve a more balanced society."—Wendy L. Hicks, PhD, Department of Criminal Justice, Loyola University New Orleans

"I plan to adopt this book for my graduate social work research classes because it provides such a smooth integration of theory and practical applications. The book clarifies the differences between research and evaluation and between gender-based and feminist research, as well as areas of overlap. It dares to tackle some of the most challenging issues in feminist research: the role of the researcher/evaluator, values, power differentials, rigor and bias, and more. Examples of feminist research and evaluation from around the globe are presented in a way that enables the reader to understand and follow the methods used. This is a great addition to my research library."—Lacey Sloan, PhD, MSSW, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, College of Staten Island, City University of New York

From the Publisher

"The feminist evaluation and research principles, and the reflective questions raised in the first section, are explored throughout the volume and well illustrated by the authors’ own experiences. There is an honesty in the volume about the realities of undertaking research and evaluation that places women at the center, particularly in places where equity and inclusion for women cannot be taken for granted….It sets the scene for renewed understandings and reinvigorated conversations about how feminist evaluation and research might engage with peoples around the globe.

American Journal of Evaluation