Re-Structuring Evaluation Findings into Useful Knowledge

Background: A long research stream has shown that when knowledge is more structured it is more likely to be effective in practical application. Building on that research, the authors applied Integrative Proposition Analysis to visualize, integrate, and assess the quality and usefulness of knowledge...

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Main Authors: Danielle Houston, Bernadette Wright, Steven E. Wallis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University 2017-09-01
Series:Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation
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Online Access:https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/481
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author Danielle Houston
Bernadette Wright
Steven E. Wallis
author_facet Danielle Houston
Bernadette Wright
Steven E. Wallis
author_sort Danielle Houston
collection DOAJ
description Background: A long research stream has shown that when knowledge is more structured it is more likely to be effective in practical application. Building on that research, the authors applied Integrative Proposition Analysis to visualize, integrate, and assess the quality and usefulness of knowledge gained from the NMAC (formerly National Minority AIDS Council) Strong Communities evaluation. Purpose: Demonstrate an innovative method to rigorously integrate and strengthen knowledge gained from evaluation and to encourage discussion of future directions for developing stronger theories for more effective evaluation and more effective action. Setting: Birmingham, Alabama Intervention: A project to identify local strategies for community-based organizations and community health centers that serve African American and Latinx gay and bisexual men and transgender women to collaboratively meet HIV-related community needs. Research Design:  The researchers applied Integrative Propositional Analysis to integrate and map concepts and causal connections emerging from the evaluation findings. The authors then analyzed the resulting map to identify top-mentioned concepts, better understood concepts, reinforcing loops, and knowledge gaps. Data Collection and Analysis: Integrative Propositional Analysis applied to a literature review and stakeholder interview transcripts collected for the evaluation. Findings: Integrating literature and interview results helped to identify several actions where providers of HIV-related services could increase their impact on combating the HIV epidemic among the communities they serve. The authors also identified a reinforcing loop; this shows opportunity to improve two desired outcomes by increasing one. In addition, the authors identified blank spots on the map; these show where additional research could strengthen the quality and usefulness of the mapped knowledge.
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spelling doaj-art-c61005bdfdc14ecfa8fcd3048b3b206f2025-08-20T02:43:10ZengThe Evaluation Center at Western Michigan UniversityJournal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation1556-81802017-09-01132910.56645/jmde.v13i29.481Re-Structuring Evaluation Findings into Useful KnowledgeDanielle Houston0Bernadette Wright1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1044-1323Steven E. Wallis2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5207-603XNMACMeaningful Evidence, LLCMeaningful Evidence, LLC Background: A long research stream has shown that when knowledge is more structured it is more likely to be effective in practical application. Building on that research, the authors applied Integrative Proposition Analysis to visualize, integrate, and assess the quality and usefulness of knowledge gained from the NMAC (formerly National Minority AIDS Council) Strong Communities evaluation. Purpose: Demonstrate an innovative method to rigorously integrate and strengthen knowledge gained from evaluation and to encourage discussion of future directions for developing stronger theories for more effective evaluation and more effective action. Setting: Birmingham, Alabama Intervention: A project to identify local strategies for community-based organizations and community health centers that serve African American and Latinx gay and bisexual men and transgender women to collaboratively meet HIV-related community needs. Research Design:  The researchers applied Integrative Propositional Analysis to integrate and map concepts and causal connections emerging from the evaluation findings. The authors then analyzed the resulting map to identify top-mentioned concepts, better understood concepts, reinforcing loops, and knowledge gaps. Data Collection and Analysis: Integrative Propositional Analysis applied to a literature review and stakeholder interview transcripts collected for the evaluation. Findings: Integrating literature and interview results helped to identify several actions where providers of HIV-related services could increase their impact on combating the HIV epidemic among the communities they serve. The authors also identified a reinforcing loop; this shows opportunity to improve two desired outcomes by increasing one. In addition, the authors identified blank spots on the map; these show where additional research could strengthen the quality and usefulness of the mapped knowledge. https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/481evaluation synthesesIntegrative Propositional Analysiscomplexitysystems thinkingHIVAfrican American
spellingShingle Danielle Houston
Bernadette Wright
Steven E. Wallis
Re-Structuring Evaluation Findings into Useful Knowledge
Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation
evaluation syntheses
Integrative Propositional Analysis
complexity
systems thinking
HIV
African American
title Re-Structuring Evaluation Findings into Useful Knowledge
title_full Re-Structuring Evaluation Findings into Useful Knowledge
title_fullStr Re-Structuring Evaluation Findings into Useful Knowledge
title_full_unstemmed Re-Structuring Evaluation Findings into Useful Knowledge
title_short Re-Structuring Evaluation Findings into Useful Knowledge
title_sort re structuring evaluation findings into useful knowledge
topic evaluation syntheses
Integrative Propositional Analysis
complexity
systems thinking
HIV
African American
url https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/481
work_keys_str_mv AT daniellehouston restructuringevaluationfindingsintousefulknowledge
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AT stevenewallis restructuringevaluationfindingsintousefulknowledge