evaluationthe
Evaluationthe is a neologistic concept describing a meta-theoretical approach to evaluation. It treats evaluation not only as a set of methods for judging programs, policies, or products but as a field concerned with the theoretical conditions for making evaluative claims. The term is rarely standardized and appears primarily in discussions that aim to reflect on the foundations, criteria, and norms that govern evaluation practice.
Etymology and scope: The word combines evaluation with theory, implying a theory of evaluation processes. Since
Core concerns and methods: Proponents of evaluationthe emphasize reflexivity, transparency, and the explicit articulation of assumptions
Applications: While theoretical, evaluationthe informs practical evaluation design by guiding criteria selection, stakeholder engagement, and reporting
Reception and critique: As a speculative or emergent term, evaluationthe faces questions about definitional clarity, operationalization,