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Evaluative Inquiry for Systemic Change
A Guide to Shift Beyond Fixes to Lasting Value
- Emily F. Gates - Boston College, USA
- Pablo Vidueira - Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Spain, Evaluation Consultant
January 2026 | 208 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
In a world where social, ecological, health, and other problems are influenced by multiple, intersecting systems, why do most interventions target single-factor solutions? Why does so much evaluation settle for incremental change, and how could it contribute instead to deeper, lasting, transformative change? Authors Emily F. Gates and Pablo Vidueira make two interconnected arguments in this book: they critique the "fixed" approach of traditional program evaluation and policy analysis, and they advance an alternative approach centered on changing systems and developing the value of efforts toward change. They demonstrate that systemic change that embeds evaluative inquiry is a theoretically supported, practical way to work toward fundamental social change with lasting impact.
Preface
About The Authors
Chapter 1: Shift From Fixing to Systemic Change
Chapter 2: Develop Value Together
Chapter 3: Join Together
Chapter 4: Engage In Systemic Change
Chapter 5: Evaluate To Develop Value
Chapter 6: Shape Capabilties and Conditions
Chapter 7: Share And Learn from Examples
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Glossary
References