It emphasizes individual and community capacity building. An empowerment approach to evaluation looks at risk and protective factors that enhance positive change within the community and promote individual growth among youth. Such an approach is useful because it recognizes environmental influences in the lives of individuals. In the arts, empowerment processes are intended to help individuals gain an understanding of their environment and cultural heritage, develop artistic skills, and develop independent problem-solving and decisionmaking skills. The measurement of outcomes in empowerment evaluation analyzes the results of the processes put into action.
Social relationships are also very important in evaluation.
The traditional approach where an evaluator strives to be removed from a program in order to be objective is viable but does not allow for the collection of qualitative data. When planning a program evaluation, individuals who are stakeholders in the planning and results of an evaluation often represent different ideologies and value systems. In addition, the diversity that the arts bring into the prevention field requires that evaluators have some knowledge of the creative process as well as know a particular art form. In empowerment evaluation, the evaluator is more of an expert or facilitator who utilizes a participatory approach. A participatory approach is one in which the participants, clients, staff and evaluators are seen as stakeholders actively involved in all aspects of the evaluation process.