The American Evaluation Association (AEA) is a professional association that serves the field of program evaluation, personnel evaluation, technology evaluation, and many other forms of evaluation. Here are some key points about the AEA:
History
- American Evaluation Association was established in 1986 through the merger of three organizations: the Evaluation Research Society (ERS), the Evaluation Network (ENET), and the Evaluation Research Society of Canada (ERS-Canada). This unification aimed to consolidate and strengthen the evaluation community in North America.
- Since its inception, AEA has grown significantly, now boasting thousands of members from various sectors including government, academia, non-profits, and private industry.
Mission and Objectives
- The primary mission of AEA is to improve evaluation practices and methods, increase evaluation use, promote evaluation as a profession, and support the contribution of evaluation to the generation of knowledge about human service effectiveness.
- It strives to:
- Facilitate networking and professional development among its members.
- Advance the theory and practice of evaluation.
- Support the ethical conduct of evaluation.
- Advocate for evaluation as a key component in decision making for policy, programs, and personnel.
Activities and Services
- Annual Conference: AEA hosts an annual conference, which is one of the largest gatherings of evaluators in the world, providing a platform for sharing research, methodologies, and professional development.
- Publications: AEA publishes the American Journal of Evaluation, which is a peer-reviewed academic journal focused on evaluation theory, methods, and practices.
- Topical Interest Groups (TIGs): AEA organizes its members into TIGs, which focus on specific evaluation areas or themes, allowing for more targeted professional interaction and development.
- Awards and Recognition: The association recognizes outstanding contributions to the field through various awards like the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Award for Evaluation Theory, the Alva and Gunnar Myrdal Evaluation Practice Award, and the Robert Ingle Award for Evaluation Leadership.
- Professional Development: AEA provides numerous workshops, webinars, and training sessions to help members enhance their evaluation skills.
Leadership and Structure
- AEA is governed by a Board of Directors, which includes elected officers and representatives from the TIGs. The leadership works to represent the diverse interests within the evaluation community.
External Links
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