PROGRAM EVALUATORS AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES - A NATIONAL SURVEY

A random sample of American Evaluation Association members was surveye d concerning the ethical challenges they encountered in their evaluati on work- Respondents who indicated that they had faced such challenges differed significantly (in amount and type of evaluation experience, as well as professional discipline) from those who said that they had never encountered an ethical conflict. Ethical problems associated wit h the reporting of findings by the evaluator were, by far, the most fr equently mentioned Also frequently described were conflicts involving the misinterpretation/misuse of results by stakeholders, contracting w ith stakeholders, and adherence to disclosure agreements. A frame work for interpreting the study's findings, based on understanding the sub jective commitment of evaluators to the roles of scientist and/or help ing professional, is proposed.