bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE PRICING FACTORS OF NATIONAL CULTURAL MONUMENTS
Authors: Brandejs David , Klika Pavel
Published: April 2023

Not only with the constant development in the field of building materials and new construction technologies, but also currently with the advent of the energy crisis caused by the state of war in Ukraine, there is an increasing emphasis on sustainable architecture. Sustainable architecture is based on the concept of increasing the efficiency and modernization of buildings, but at the same time it tries to reduce or completely minimize the negative consequences of these buildings, which, for example, are associated with the materials used, space, energy, but also with the location of buildings and their orientation to the cardinal points.
National cultural monuments are one of the most important parts of the cultural heritage and wealth of any nation. There are countless national cultural monuments in the form of immovable buildings in the Czech Republic. More than half of the buildings are used for residential purposes. At the moment, there are no completely relevant valuation methods and procedures for this type of building that would be able to fully integrate the historical and architectural heritage value into the valuation process and the resulting value.
The study evaluates the most significant price-setting factors of housing units that are part of heritage-protected apartment buildings. With the help of the statistical method - Analysis of dependence, correlation, regression modelling and multivariate regression analysis, the most significant price-forming factors were specified, quantified and evaluated.
SUSTAINABLE DIALOG BETWEEN TRADITIONAL REVIVAL AND CONTEMPORARY MODELS IN THE CASE OF SAXON SETTLEMENTS IN TRANSYLVANIA
Authors: Voinea Alina Elena
Published: April 2023

Housing and sustainable living are two main preoccupations for architects onward with tracking the purpose of housing to meet people�s need of shelter and the purpose for healthy lifestyle. Achieving the first purpose considers the impact scale on the natural environment and on the social and community dimensions. The second purpose views the relation to nature through building techniques and materials, spaces, and the living context.
Saxon settlements from Transylvania are analyzed to identify the model of living, today subject of sustainable dialog between tradition and contemporaneity. Going through different scales, urban, architectural and detail, key aspects of sustainable housing and settlements. The colonizing model of settlement, the standalone household and the traditional house reflect a sustainable housing system and a living dialog between community and nature.
In this sense, rural Saxon Villages from Transylvania dating from the Middle Ages provide an interesting study case of revival and environment for the new communities. Rural settlements have caught the attention of the young generation seeking a healthy lifestyle in harmony with nature. Moreover, Saxon settlements provide a traditional versatile typology of living to which a diversity of inhabitants can adapt.
The purpose of the paper is to unravel the characteristics of the settlements model implemented in the process of Transylvanian colonization still providing a sustainable and up-to-date system of living and housing for the new community of inhabitants today.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN AREAS � THE PREMISE OF A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY
Authors: Oprea Luciana , Ienciu Ioan
Published: April 2023

Urbanization represents a process in a continuous dynamic and which appeared through the concentration of a population in a certain space. Its expansion was achieved by increasing the population of a certain territory, growth based on different factors such as migration, natural growth, the transformation of some rural areas into urban areas or the expansion of rural towns.
Together with these phenomena, the population is faced with atmospheric pollution, the increasingly acute housing crisis and waste management, to which is added the reduction of green spaces through their conversion into spaces occupied by various infrastructure works.
Considering that, sustainable communities are designed to achieve a balance between economic and social growth and considering the limits of natural resources. The importance of these communities lies in the fact that they are integrated in such a way as to allow achieving a balance between the exploitation of natural resources and consumption leading thus regenerating resources and ensuring them for future generations.
ASPECTS REGARDING THE EVOLUTION OF APICULTURE
Authors: Dumitrescu Carmen Simona , Salasan Cosmin , Pet Elena , Stanciu Sorin Mihai , Pascalau Raul
Published: April 2023

The growth of the world population, the technical-scientific and socio-economic evolution have led to the increase of the need for food products and the diversification of their range. Under these conditions, beekeeping acquires an increasingly important role as a food supply (honey) but also as a vector of growth of agricultural vegetal production through crop pollination. It also provides various products with a role in maintaining the health of the population through products with high prophylactic and therapeutic value. From a social and economic point of view, it is recognized that this branch of activity contributes to ensuring the prosperity of the population, especially in rural areas, through an additional source of income and the superior use of natural and human resources. In addition, beekeeping takes on an increased importance by supporting and stimulating the natural environment through the undeniable effects on floral biodiversity. Beekeeping is practiced in all European countries, to a greater or lesser extent. And compared to other agricultural branches, where the investments are necessary to start the activity and the expenses for current activities are much higher, in beekeeping all these are located at a much more reasonable level. Another important aspect that needs to be maintained is related to technological development, in beekeeping activity there is no need for highly advanced techniques and technologies to obtain quality products, but involvement is needed. Beekeeping is the branch of agriculture in which Romania could play an important role at European level, but as in other agricultural branches, a critical point in beekeeping is the association and the marketing of products. Within this work, a brief analysis of beekeeping within the European Union is carried out, the extent of this activity as several persons involved in each state, the number of hives and productions obtained, using descriptive statistical methods and graphic processing of the obtained data.
ASPECTS REGARIND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2030 AGENDA OBJECTIVES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Authors: Stanciu Sorin Mihai , Pascalau Raul , Dumitrescu Carmen Simona
Published: April 2023

Combating poverty and social exclusion requires addressing individual needs in terms of life cycles. As children growing up in poor households will face a higher risk of poverty in the future, in order to break the intergenerational circle of poverty, the governments must adopt programs aimed at simultaneously child and adult poverty in a household. The intergenerational circle of exclusion is perpetuated when low levels of education and poor health seriously limit the chances of access to the labour market for the next generation of children. Breaking the intergenerational circle of poverty and exclusion will require targeted interventions to eliminate the multiple causes of inequality. A coordinated approach is needed in the implementation of policies, programs and interventions aimed at the poor and vulnerable population as well as at marginalized areas. The European Union and the United Nations are natural partners in the effort to build a safer and better world for all. To this end, the European Union supports effective multilateralism and a rules-based international order, in which the United Nations plays a central role. Being a great success for the EU in negotiating, the Sustainable Development Goals are a useful tool to design EU values and objectives globally and provide a useful common framework for international partnerships. It is therefore in the EU's interest to play a leading role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda globally through its external action. The 2030 Agenda, together with the Paris Agreement on Climate change, is the roadmap to a better world, the global framework for international cooperation on sustainable development and the economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions of this framework [1]. In this article, the attention is oriented towards the first SDG � No poverty and so, the population exposed to poverty and social exclusion risks is analysed. The main criteria used for the population analyses are the population under 18 years old, the urbanization degree, the social transfers beneficiaries, severe material and social deprivation, low work intensity households or even employed persons exposed to poverty, persons overburdened by housing expenses are also part of this category. The research methods consist of analysing the data from the official sources using the descriptive statistical methods and graphical representations.
GREENING HUMAN CAPITAL AND BUSINESS CYCLE: THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL POLICIES
Authors: Albanese Marina , Busato Francesco , Cisco Gianluigi
Published: April 2023

Higher education institutions play a central role in shaping labor skills and green culture essential in the future low-carbon economy. This paper examines the impact of green education policies in the higher education sector on the business cycle and compares them to standard incentives to encourage green production at the firm level. For our purpose, we set up a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium model extended to account for the endogenous selection of green and traditional human capital and heterogeneous households that differ in their ability to access labor markets and with different availabilities of human capital. We find that both academic and firm subsidy measures enable the greening of human capital. However, a green education stimulus is essential to increase the quality of green education and allow sustainable development in the long run. In contrast, firm-level green subsidies have a larger impact on short-term low-carbon productivity, as they mainly affect hiring and investment decisions.
GENDER EQUALITY PLAN FOR R&I. OBSERVATIONS BASED ON THE INITIAL EXPERIENCES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SILESIA IN KATOWICE
Authors: Torbus Urszula , Półtorak Magdalena
Published: April 2023

The European Union has for many years been firmly committed to promoting gender equality in research and innovation (R&I). Despite this, the sector is still characterised by the persistence of structural barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from developing equally. To counteract this, those applying for Horizon Europe funding today must have a Gender Equality Plan (GEP). This study aims to present the theoretical and practical issues related to developing and implementing a Gender Equality Plan in R&I. However, this issue poses a challenge for many R&I entities (especially in Poland). The plan should, on the one hand, meet the requirements of the European Commission and, on the other, be a specific strategy designed to meet particular needs. Thus, the article explains: what precisely a GEP is and, what elements it should contain, how to create such a plan step by step, the EU recommendations in this respect are confronted with the first experiences of the University of Silesia in Katowice, and finally, it proves that a GEP is a proactive measure aimed at eliminating gender discrimination and identifying potential violations. At the same time, if taken seriously, it also can contribute to the construction and development of a real equal treatment policy in a workplace such as an R&I entity. Due to the rather practical (sofar) aspect of the issue, the article is primarily based on EU and national documents (both binding and soft, strategic). At the same time, the literature analysis is only complementary.
SOME REMARKS ABOUT THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE LEGITIMATE INTEREST OF CITIZENS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE CODE OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
Authors: Strzępek Łukasz
Published: April 2023

The issue of the mutual relation between individual and social interests has been the subject of inquiry in the legal sciences for a long time. However, the doctrine lacks a broader consideration of the legal and procedural aspects accompanying the application of the law by public administration bodies, taking into account the need to balance the aforementioned interests - as stipulated by Article 7 of the Code of Administrative Procedure. Within the framework of the article, it is obviously impossible to resolve all the problems, nevertheless, this study has signaled at least some of them, highlighting some aspects of this complex issue. The main attention focused on the clarification of certain concepts whose interpretation can lead to different results as well as on issues concerning the relevance of the provision of Article 7 of the Code of Administrative Procedure to the actions of the authority in administrative proceedings.
PROCEEDINGS FOR THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY PROPERTY OF SPOUSES. FOLLOWING THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE INTRODUCED BY THE LAW OF JULY 4, 2019
Authors: Śladkowski Mariusz
Published: April 2023

With the growing number of divorces in Poland, one of the most common types of civil non-trial proceedings is proceedings for the division of community property of spouses. Court-ordered division of community property of spouses usually takes place when the joint holders of rights are unable to agree on issues related to the withdrawal from the joint ownership. If, however, the joint holders of rights agree on the composition of the community property and the manner in which the division is to be carried out, they will, as a rule, enter into an agreement of appropriate content. This method of division is much faster, and also provides more opportunities to do it with a broader consideration of all aspects of the situation of the entities in question. In principle, non-trial proceedings seem to be a simpler category than their procedural counterparts (if only due to the lack of contentious nature of the subject matter of the case itself, for example, the need to divide the community property of the spouses after the cessation of marital property ownership), however, the multiplicity of problems arising in the course of these proceedings makes them of considerable interest to practitioners. One of the most important reforms of civil procedure in recent years, made by the Act of July 04, 2019 amending the Act - Code of Civil Procedure and certain other acts, influenced their actual course. Improving the implementation of the citizens right to a court of law has been identified as one of the most important goals of this amendment
APPLICATION OF THE LEAN MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY IN POLISH COMPANIES
Authors: Łyszkowska Edyta
Published: April 2023

Lean Management is one of the most effective management methodologies. Positively implemented in many Polish companies, it has translated into a significant increase in their efficiency. The results of studies on this topic carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the preceding years have contributed to the recommendation to implement this methodology in circumstances where risk and market uncertainty prevail. The purpose of this paper is to introduce Lean Management, both theoretically and empirically, by showing the results of its application in companies and the factors that contribute to a lack of full efficiency in this regard. Based on the studies that have been carried out, the effectiveness of Lean Management in the operation of management processes of Polish companies will be demonstrated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFICIALS SERVING IN THE REGISTRATION DEPARTMENTS OF THE PENITENTIARY UNITS OF THE PRISON SERVICE
Authors: Markowiak Magdalena , Gąsiorek Ewa
Published: April 2023

This article is concerns characterising the officials serving in the registration departments in pris-ons and detention centres. The purpose of this article is to identify the requirements the specialist personnel must meet while performing administrative tasks in the registration department in the context of the analysis of the overall structure and the complexity of the tasks performed by the officials. This article outlines the system for selecting candidate officers for the aforementioned departments.
THE POSTCOVID RISE IN INFLATION: COINCIDENCE OR THE RESULT OF MISGUIDED, EXCESSIVELY INTERVENTIONIST AND MONETARIST ECONOMIC POLICIES
Authors: Prokopowicz Dariusz
Published: April 2023

The economic crisis, which in 2020 was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) coronavirus pandemic, was mainly a downturn and recession of non-financial sectors of the economy, mainly resulting from the recession of service sectors covered by lockdowns. The previous mainly financial crisis occurred in 2007-2009. These crises had a different character and other anti-crisis interventionist actions were launched as part of monetary policy and/or fiscal, budgetary, social policy, etc. In 2021, the global economy began to recover efficiently from the economic crisis of 2020. On the other hand, in 2021 there was an increase in inflation as a result of excessively interventionist, monetarist anti-economic measures implemented as part of public financial aid offered during the pandemic to commercially operating economic entities. In 2022, the increase in inflation accelerated and there may be another significant slowdown in economic growth caused by economic sanctions imposed on Russia in connection with the war in Ukraine. The aforementioned war caused an increase in fossil fuel prices, energy prices, food prices and became another pro-inflationary factor. Central banks raise interest rates as part of anti-inflationary measures. However, inflation remains elevated. As a result, there were symptoms of a decrease in consumption and production, and enterprises resigned from the implementation of previously planned business ventures and reduced the level of investments. The result may be the emergence of a deep economic downturn in 2023. In connection with the above, the following research questions arise: what were the original sources of inflation growth and what anti-crisis socio-economic policy should be applied by the governments of individual countries to avoid stagflation in 2023?
Perancangan Sistem Informasi Laporan Pengaduan Masyarakat Berbasis WEB pada Dinas ESDM SUMUT
Authors: Ikhwan Ali , Lubis Dina Amalia Putri
Published: April 2023

Perkembangan teknologi informasi, telah menciptkan berbagai layanan yang dapat memenuhi kebutuhan akan informasi. Pengaduan masyarakat adalah pengaduan dari masyarakat kepada otoritas publik tentang kegagalan layanan, pelanggaran tugas dan/atau pelanggaran. Di Dinas ESDM Provinsi Sumatera Utara masih ditemukan laporan pengaduan masyarakat tergabung kedalam surat masuk lainnya. Maka akan dilakukan pembuatan Sistem Informasi Laporan Pengaduan Masyarakat Berbasis WEB agar dapat mempermudah instansi dalam menemukan, mengelola, dan memproses data laporan pengaduan masyarakat serta mempermudah masyarakat dalam memberikan aspirasi. Teknik pengumpulan data yang dilakukan adalah observasi dan wawancara serta menggunakan metode pengembangan sistem RAD. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah terciptanya Sistem Informasi Laporan Pengaduan Masyarakat Berbasis Web untuk masyarakat dan Dinas ESDM Sumatera Utara dengan menggunakan tahapan dalam metode RAD yaitu Requirements Planning, Design Workshop, dan Implementation. dalam melakukan pengaduan dan menerima laporan pengaduan.
Penggunaan Algoritma Bubble Sort dalam Pengurutan Nomor Induk Mahasiswa
Authors: Abdullah Muhammad Farhan , Hafiza Isna , Wahyuni Rama , Syahputra Adrian
Published: April 2023

Salah satu pendataan untuk mahasiswa adalah Nomor Induk Mahasiswa. Proses pencarian di suatu universitas menjadi kurang efektif jika suatu data itu terlalu banyak. Pembagian kelas biasanya dilakukan berdasarkan Nomor Induk Mahasiswa. hal ini, menggunakan pengurutan data adalah cara tercepat untuk mencari data mahasiswa. Umumnya dalam menggunakan pengurutan data berupa Nomor Induk Mahasiswa membutuhkan waktu dan jumlah kriteria yang ditentukan oleh pihak universitas, masalah ini sering membutuhkan waktu yang cukup lama karena banyaknya jumlah mahasiswa dan kelas. Maka untuk melakukan pengurutan data Nomor Induk Mahasiswa dalam melakukan pegurutan data Nomor Induk Mahasiswa bisa juga menggunakan algoritma atau metode untuk dapat mempermudah proses pengurutan. Algoritma Bubble Sort adalah salah satu metode yang dapat digunakan dalam pengurutan data, algoritma ini dapat menukarkan posisi data yang telah dibandingkan sesuai dengan kitreta yang diinginkan. Dengan menggunakan algoritma Bubble Sort dapat mempermudah dan meringankan tugas dalam pengurutan Nomor Induk Mahasiswa. Hasil dari penggunakan algoritma ini bisa mempermudah pencarian identitas dari mahasiswa.
Implementasi Metode Scrum pada Pengembangan Aplikasi Bimbingan Skripsi Online
Authors: Yarpriransa Yarpriransa , Saripurna Darjat , Santoso Heri
Published: April 2023

Saat ini perkembangan teknologi sangat pesat dan peranannya sangat penting untuk mendukung aktivitas manusia agar dapat mengoptimalkan waktu dengan lebih baik. Dalam perkembangan teknologi internet di dunia pendidikan masih belum maksimal. Khususnya untuk para civitas di dalam perkuliahan banyak penggunaan informasi yang masih manual. Kesulitan para dosen untuk membantu mahasiswa saat bimbingan adalah batasan waktu komunikasi yang terlalu sempit, dan perbedaan jadwal kesibukan antara mahasiswa dan dosen pembimbing. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengimplementasikan metode scrum pada pengembangan aplikasi bimbingan skripsi online agar dapat membantu dan mendukung proses bimbingan skripsi di Teknik Informatika Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara secara online dan memudahkan antara mahasiswa dan dosen berinteraksi tanpa tatap muka dengan fitur live chat atau online chat dan dosen juga dapat memonitoring kegiatan mahasiswa dalam mengerjakan skripsi. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi bimbingan skripsi online mampu diselesaikan dalam kurun waktu 1 bulan 29 hari atau 4 sprint dengan menggunakan metode scrum dimana setiap sprint dilaksanakan hanya pada hari efektif serta lebih cepat dari estimasi pengerjaan yang telah direncanakan.
Penerapan Algoritma K-Means dalam Klasterisasi Kasus Stunting Balita Desa Tegalwangi
Authors: Apriyani Putri , Dikananda Arif Rinaldi , Ali Irfan
Published: April 2023

Di Indonesia, dengan prevalensi stunting sebesar 37,2%, naik dari 35,6% pada tahun 2019 dan 36,8% pada tahun 2020, masalah stunting masih menjadi masalah kesehatan masyarakat yang signifikan. Ketika seorang anak pendek (kerdil), panjang atau tinggi badannya di bawah normal untuk usianya. Stunting berdampak buruk pada masalah kesehatan mental, tingkat IQ rendah, infeksi menular, dan tumbuh kembang anak. Permasalahan yang ada di Desa Tegalwangi saat ini adalah orang tua dan kader posyandu masih belum memiliki pemahaman dasar tentang stunting balita,balita dengan kasus stunting teridentifikasi saat pertumbuhan dan perkembangannya tidak sesuai dengan usianya dan tidak ada pengelompokan data berdasarkan faktor tersebut. K-Means merupakan salah satu algoritma dalam data mining yang bisa digunakan untuk melakukan pengelompokan suatu data. Penggunaan algoritma K-Means pada penelitian dimana algoritma tersebut banyak dipakai oleh para peneliti sebagai proses klasterisasi untuk menentukan status stunting balita. Teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini yaitu teknik observasi pasif, dimana peneliti datang langsung ke tempat pelaksanaan Posyandu. Adapun data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 395 dataset. Penelitian ini didukung dengan metode Knowledge Discovery In Databases (KDD) adalah keseluruhan proses non- trivial untuk mencari dan mengidentifikasi pola (pattern) dalam data. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kelompok atau cluster status stunting balita yang didapat berdasarkan parameter usia, berat badan dan tinggi badan. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah didapat jumlah cluster optimal dengan K=2.Untuk cluster 0 terdapat 392 balita yaitu Shanum, Rizka, Nurjanah dan lainnya, cluster 1 dengan terdapat 3 balita yaitu Ezra, M Abidza dan Abd Mahmud. Dengan jumlah total balita stunting 287 balita dan jumlah total balita status normal 108 balita dan nilai DBI yang paling optimal sebesar 0.007 dimana nilai tersebut mendekati 0 yang berarti klaster yang di evaluasi menghasilkan klaster yang baik.
Bioeconomic Models and the Formative Evaluation of Fisheries-Related Programs
Authors: Cahill Ian Graham , Robard Éric
Published: April 2023

Background: Bioeconomics combines methods from the biological study of living resources, particularly population dynamics, with methods of economic analysis. Most applications have been in program design for resource management. Although formative evaluations often deal with potential improvements to design based on examination of the program at some point in the early or middle period of its life, there has been little interplay between bioeconomic modelling and evaluation of programs in the context of fisheries management programs.
Purpose: This paper describes the potential synergy between the analytic modelling techniques from bioeconomics and the formative evaluation of programs that support sustainable fisheries.
 

Setting: NA
Intervention: We focus on how feedback from qualitative formative evaluation methods could be used to improve the development and use of realistic bioeconomic models to inform program design, which would in turn improve formative evaluation.
Research Design: NA
Data Collection and Analysis: NA
Findings: NA
Democratic Evaluation & Crowdsourcing: It's a Match!
Authors: Vaca Sara
Published: April 2023

Background: After attending professional evaluation conferences, and having the privilege of listening to the founders of the discipline of Evaluation, the author reflects on how the new generation of evaluators should aspire to upgrade their role in society by making the most of the tools and social dynamics of new technologies, and exploring ways in which evaluation could operate in both present and future scenarios.Purpose: To foster democratic evaluation as a powerful tool for more democratic government, by expanding traditional ways of reaching the community, either as evaluation participants or traditional funders, leveraged through new technologies.Setting: Not applicable.Intervention: Not applicable.Research Design: Not applicable.Data Collection and Analysis: Not applicable. Findings: There are powerful potential synergies that the evaluation community could explore between participatory evaluation approaches –such as democratic evaluation– and the democratization (democratic: for all those individuals who have internet access) of participation facilitated by new technologies –in terms of voting, giving opinion, donating or contributing in some way via internet. .One of these possibilities is known as Crowdsourcing: asking services, ideas, or content to a large group of people, and especially from an online community. This alternative has started to be used in many disciplines. In particular, two crowdsourcing modalities have been found to be directly applicable:-        Crowdvoting: asking the public's opinion regarding certain matters, not only in the data collection phase of the evaluation, but in the phases of analysis and judging, or even in the evaluation design, as a way of introducing other voices into the evaluation process.-        Crowdfunding: asking citizens to contribute with small amounts of money to support the evaluation of public services and programmes, as an alternative to depending solely on the funding decisions of traditional decision-makers. This can be very pertinent in cases where decision-makers are not following the general interest and democratic evaluation appears to be the best approach to follow for citizens to try to induce a change of policy.However, further research is needed to explore these and other modalities and synergies, with special emphasis on experimentation to test such hypotheses.
The Promise of Participatory Evaluation in Family-Centered Rehabilitation Settings: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Moreau Katherine Ann , Peddle Beth , Eady Kaylee
Published: April 2023

Background: Family-centered service philosophy (FCS) is an important contextual aspect of many pediatric rehabilitation programs. It recognizes the importance of supporting family relationships and the benefits of active family participation in all aspects of programming. Unfortunately, many professionals often overlook FCS philosophy when designing and implementing evaluations. Given the emphasis that participatory evaluation places on collaboration and the engagement of stakeholders, it appears to be theoretically compatible with FCS philosophy.  Purpose: To explore parents’ and staff members’ perceptions of participatory program evaluation, including its congruence with family-centered service (FCS) philosophy, as well as the feasibility and practicality of using participatory program evaluation within pediatric rehabilitation centers.Setting: The study was conducted at two urban pediatric rehabilitation centers in Ontario, Canada.Intervention: Not applicable.Design: Qualitative exploration.Data Collection and Analysis: The study included qualitative interviews, focus groups and a thematic analysis.  Findings: Participants described how participatory evaluation, in congruence with FCS philosophy, would increase the relevance of program evaluations for families, help support program interventions, assist in the development of clinician-parent relationships, and facilitate the empowerment of families. They also described how a lack of time, funding, and training, as well as variations in the priorities and interests of families presented challenges for using participatory evaluation within their centers.
Exploring Design Thinking Practices in Evaluation
Authors: Adams Chithra , Nash John B
Published: April 2023

Background: Design thinking is the process by which the core principles of design are used to problem solve and identify innovative solutions that enahance user experience.   Purpose: The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of design thinking and explore the basic principles of design thinking within the context of the evaluation. Setting: The design thinking process has been used in various fields to enhance innovation and consumer experience. This article explores how the concepts of design thinking can enhance evaluation practice. Intervention: This article did not require an intervention Research Design: Not applicable  Data Collection and Analysis: Not applicable Findings: We present ideas for adopting design thinking principles into everyday evaluation practice
Evaluating Community Development Projects Using the OECD Evaluation Criteria
Authors: Assan Ninson Enoch
Published: April 2023

Background: Community development has over the years become very popular in the development circles. However, efforts and resources expended in improving rural communities through development projects appear to be eroded over time. Failure to integrate evaluation in the project design and periodically assess intended objectives and current results is a major contributory factor. Evaluation has become very significant especially in this era of dwindling donor support. It helps to identify strengths and weaknesses of a project and aids in averting erosion of efforts. This paper practically evaluates community development projects implemented in 4 rural communities in the Eastern region of Ghana using the OECD/DAC five project evaluation criteria which are efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, impact and sustainability.
Purpose: The study was conducted to provide a practical example of how community development projects can be evaluated using existing criteria. Also, it is intended to add to existing knowledge on evaluation and encourage project implementers to consider evaluation as an integral part of their implementation.
Setting: The study was conducted in four rural communities in two districts in the Eastern region of Ghana. Eastern region is one of the ten regions in Ghana. The projects involved in the study were a School, Clinic, Oil Palm processor, and a Soap and Cosmetics project.     
Intervention: The study shows practically that evaluation is uncomplicated and can be undertaken in interventions. It outlines clearly the gains and losses that can be generated by community development project. It also outlines the threats and opportunities that exist in the implementation of community development projects. This can be applied in other settings.
Research Design:  The sample size was 40 made up of 6 NGO staff, 4 local government staff, 2 health assistants and 28 community members including leaders. The community members were sampled randomly while purposive sampling was used for local government, NGO staff and community leaders.
Data Collection and Analysis: Data collection included primary methods such as interviews, focus group discussions, photographs, observations, and questionnaire administration as well as secondary methods such as reviews of relevant books, photographs, project reports, policy papers, and relevant websites. Analysis of the data collected was done qualitatively with simple statistical tools.
Findings: Some findings of the evaluation were that the school was more relevant, efficient, effective and sustainable. It also had maximum impact. The Oil Palm processor was also more relevant, effective and sustainable. It was however less efficient. The Clinic was less relevant, efficient and effective. It also had less impact on the community. The Clinic was not sustainable. The Soap and Cosmetics project was not relevant, not efficient, not effective not sustainable and did not have any impact on the community.
Evaluation Champions: A Literature Review
Authors: Rogers Alison Frances , Gullickson Amy
Published: April 2023

Background: Numerous studies call for the identification and engagement of evaluation champions in the implementation of an evaluation initiative. However, no agreed definition of an evaluation champion exists in the extant literature. Published studies on evaluation champions are limited and motivations of evaluation champions are not well understood. Understanding of how evaluation champions interact with their colleagues to generate momentum for change is lacking.
Purpose: This article explores champions in organizational settings and highlights the need for an increased understanding of evaluation champions. The research question posed is, ‘What does the literature tell us about evaluation champions in organizational settings?’
Setting: Not Applicable.
Intervention: Not Applicable.
Research Design: Relevant articles were identified through systematic searches of selected databases and reference reviews of retrieved articles from the evaluation and organizational development bodies of evidence. Theories that could assist with understanding the role of evaluation champions were also drawn upon.
Data Collection and Analysis: Not Applicable.
Findings: The analysis indicates evaluators and organizations value champions because they work to bring evaluative thinking into their practice and positively promote evaluation among their colleagues. A list of activities that may be indicative of the behaviours of champions has been compiled to contribute to the evidence base.
Evaluative Thinking in Practice: Implications for Evaluation from Paulo Freire's Work in Guinea-Bissau
Authors: Chianca Thomaz K. , Ceccon Cladius , Patton Michael Q.
Published: April 2023

Background: Evaluative thinking is rigorous analysis of evidence and reasoning to inform judgments of merit, worth, value, significance, and utility. Although formal concepts and definitions for evaluative thinking have only emerged recently, its practice has been around for many years. In-depth historical case studies of international evaluations using evaluative thinking principles are rare, especially the ones reported by those who were involved a half-century ago.
Purpose: This article describes little-known but historically significant educational reform initiative in Guinea Bissau (West-Africa) in the 1970s supported by a group led by Paulo Freire, examining what occurred through the lens of evaluative thinking.
Setting: In 1975, Freire and the Idac team were invited to develop a national adult literacy campaign in Guinea Bissau. Freire was already well known for his revolutionary ideas in “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.”
Intervention: Idac team supported the government to adopt Freire’s education and action approach comprising three core strategies: (i) critically understand reality, (ii) conduct scientific studies and (iii) application of the new knowledge. While Freire and four senior members of Idac’s team visited the country every three months, two other members lived there for four years. The decision was to invest in experimental pilot projects while reforming what was possible within the existing traditional school curricula.
Research Design:  The authors conducted a retrospective developmental evaluation exemplifying what can be learned by examining past events through contemporary concepts.
Data Collection and Analysis: In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants, especially Claudius Ceccon (one of the authors) who was a senior member of the Idac team working with Paulo Freire in Guinea Bissau. Also, several project original documents and relevant publications were reviewed. Thick description and content analysis were used to revisit that educational reform and examine its implications for evaluative thinking.
Findings: Even though Freire’s most prominent ideas were developed before evaluation was considered as an established field, his approach of dialectic inquiry, critical reflection and taking action has influenced and still influences many leading scholars and practitioners within our (trans)discipline. While Freire did not use the phrase “evaluative thinking,” his process of critical engagement with local people to analyze and understand their situation and take action based on their reflections manifests core elements of what today would be considered embedded evaluative thinking. In political reforms around the world, the retrospective evaluation of what happened in Guinea Bissau reminds us of the importance of evaluative thinking and reflective dialogue – and the fragility of both in the face of political polarization and changes in leadership.
Using Action Research to Build Evaluation Capacity in Public Health Organizations
Authors: Bourgeois Isabelle , Buetti David
Published: April 2023

Background: New practice standards in Ontario require the ongoing evaluation of public health programs. However, public health units have limited capacity to conduct and use evaluations.

 

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess an action research approach as a means to build evaluation capacity in public health units.

 

Setting: 36 Canadian public health units in Ontario.

 

Intervention: Action research for evaluation capacity building.

 

Research Design: Multiple-case study.

 

Data Collection and Analysis: Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were held with study participants after the design and implementation of evaluation capacity building strategies in their organizations. Analysis was conducted using the general inductive approach (Thomas, 2006).

 

Findings: Evaluation capacity building is well-supported by an action research approach.
Learning How to Learn in Sustainability Transitions Projects: The Potential Contribution of Developmental Evaluation
Authors: Mitchell Andrew S. , Lemon Mark
Published: April 2023

Background: Community-based sustainability transitions projects are increasingly being considered for their potential as policy delivery vehicles for the UK government Climate Change Act commitments. At the same time, project funders seek reassurances that their investments are relevant in helping communities mitigate, and adapt to, the effects of climate change. Despite this increased pressure, recent research suggests that evaluations of such sustainability transitions projects have, on the one hand variable impacts, or impacts that are of an inadequate scale, duration, or type, or on the other, that project staff lack the capacity or resources to undertake monitoring and evaluation to the degree of rigour expected by policy makers and funders.

Purpose: This article reports on an extended case study of a fully-funded five year community-based sustainability transitions project in Leicestershire, England. In particular, it reviews the deployment of developmental evaluation (DE) methods in an attempt to capture the project team’s learning about doing community-based sustainability work.

Setting: A funded community-based sustainability transitions project in a south Leicestershire market town.

Intervention: Developmental evaluation methods were used to capture project-based learning as a resource for project innovation and adaptation.

Research Design: Phronetic case study.

Data Collection and Analysis: Participant-observation, action research, focus and special issue group facilitation.

Findings: Use of a developmental evaluation method identified key learning points for the project actors; these focused on how the project had adapted to the complexities of the operating environment through innovations in second-order learning or learning how to learn. The paper makes recommendations for the design and funding arrangements of community-based sustainability transitions initiatives and developmental evaluation is endorsed as a viable and promising adjunct to more traditional impact, economic, and process evaluation methodologies.

Keywords: developmental evaluation; second-order learning; community-based sustainability; phronesis; action research; project design.
A Critical-Historical Review of Program Evaluation and the Emerging Motif ‘Evaluation Science’
Authors: Fear William James
Published: April 2023

Background: It is important to distinguish between evaluation as an inherent, automatic, affective process and Program Evaluation (Evaluation, with capitalised ‘E’) as an institution, and equally important to consider what a good understanding of evaluation tells us about Evaluation. Evaluation is an established social institution whose modern roots can be traced back to 16th century France. Since the early 1900s the institution has developed within and across a range of scientific disciplines with interests in perceived social problems and efforts to resolve the said problems. This can be demonstrated objectively by the number and scale of relevant publications within relevant disciplines. This, in turn, helps us understand more about Evaluation as an institution. Set in this context is the question of Evaluation Science: is this simply a fashionable institutional motif or is it a potential new era for Evaluation?

Purpose: Commentary on the history and development of Program Evaluation.

Setting: Not applicable.

Intervention: Not applicable.

Research design: Not applicable.

Data collection & analysis: Not applicable.

Findings: Not applicable.

Keywords: program evaluation; evaluation; history; evaluation science.
Evaluation Policy and Organizational Evaluation Capacity Building: Application of an Ecological Framework across Cultural Contexts
Authors: Al Hudib Hind , Cousins J. Bradly
Published: April 2023

Background: Research on the role and effects of evaluation policy is limited. Some research on the policy’s role in enhancing organizational evaluation capacity (EC) is beginning to accrue but to date it has been limited largely to global Western evaluation contexts.

Purpose: We employed an ecological conceptual framework arising from our own empirical research to explore the interface between evaluation policy and EC in non-western contexts. We asked—To what extent does this framework resonate across these contexts? In the selected non-Western context, what are the salient variables moderating the relationship between policy and EC in the selected contexts? Are there differences across countries?

Setting: The present research is focused on perceptions about evaluation culture and experiences in two countries situated in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, namely Turkey and Jordan.

Intervention: Not applicable.

Research design: We conducted focus groups within the respective countries with a combined total of 18 participants associated with country-level voluntary organizations for professional evaluation (VOPE). Participants worked in government, non-governmental aid agencies, universities and private sector organizations.

Data collection and analysis: We introduced the focus group participants to our ecological framework and then guided the conversation using semi-structured questions. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed and subsequently thematically analyzed using NVivo.

Findings: The ecological framework was found to resonate well but the findings were weighted heavily toward macro-level contextual variables. Even though important contextual and cultural differences between Turkey and Jordan were evident, leadership emerged as a significant meso-level moderating variable in both settings. The discussion of the results included implications for ongoing research.

Keywords: Evaluation capacity building; evaluation policy; program evaluation; cultural context