Abstract
Conducting applied research or program evaluations in youth settings requires a unique combination of expertise. Although evaluation approaches provide general guidance on how to conduct high-quality evaluations, they rarely provide specific guidance on how to engage in evaluation with organizations serving youth. Fortunately, the field of youth development provides extensive information about how youth develop, facilitators of and influences on youth development, and important considerations for collecting data from this population. This paper provides an approach to evaluation that integrates youth development research. By integrating this literature into their evaluation practice, the authors identified two underlying principles (contextual sensitivity and collaboration) and three key tenets for high-quality youth program evaluation: (a) youth-centered, (b) process-oriented, and (c) use-focused. This paper provides suggestions, examples, and reflective questions to support the incorporation of each tenet into evaluation practice. Through the institutionalization of these practices, youth development evaluators and practitioners can bolster the quality of research, evaluation, and practice for the ultimate benefit of youth.
Recommended Citation
Hite, Brittany; Berry, Tiffany; Theodorou, Evangelia; and Sloper, Michelle
(2026)
"Evaluating Youth Programs with Intention: Integrating Developmental Research for a Youth-Centered Approach,"
Journal of Youth Development: Vol. 21:
Iss.
1, Article 2.
DOI: 10.5195/jyd.21.01.02
Available at:
https://open.clemson.edu/jyd/vol21/iss1/2
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Leadership Studies Commons
