Dr. Brandon W. Youker specializes in the evaluation of human and social service programs. Dr. Youker received his Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Evaluation from Western Michigan University, Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University, and Bachelor’s in Social Work from Michigan State University. Furthermore, Dr. Youker was a post-graduate advanced social work fellow at Yale Child Study Center-Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Youker’s research interests are primarily in macro level social work issues such as evaluation theory, methodology, & practice; research on evaluation; needs assessment; program monitoring; philanthropic evaluation; evaluation & the arts; evaluation consulting; international evaluation; and goal-free evaluation. Dr. Youker's writings have appeared in American Journal of Evaluation, Social Work Research, International Journal of Arts Management, and Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation.
Articles
Goal-free evaluation: A potential model for the evaluation of social work programs, Social Work Reserach (2013)
Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is an evaluation model where the evaluator is deliberately kept from the...
The logic of evaluation and not-for-profit arts organizations: The perspective of an evaluation consultant, International Journal of Arts Management (2010)
This article defines evaluation, describes the logic of evaluation and discusses evaluation as it pertains...
Review of exploring evaluator role and identity. (with Carolyn Sullins Ph.D), American Journal of Evaluation (2006)
A book review of "Exploring Evaluator Role and Identity" edited by Katherine E. Ryan and...
Review of the Evaluation Exchange, Volume XI(1), XI(2), and XI(3), Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation (2006)
The Evaluation Exchange is a free, online evaluation periodical (http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/eval.html) published by the Harvard Family...
Ethnography and evaluation: Their relationship and three anthropological models of evaluation, Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation (2005)
This paper examines the relationship between ethnographic research methods and evaluation theory and methodology. It...
Presentations
The ABCs of GFE, Evaluation Café- Evaluation Center- Western Michigan University (2012)
Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is the process of determining something’s merit intentionally without reference to its...
Consequence of competing and complementary evaluation approaches: a case study. (with Chris L. S. Coryn Ph.D, Daniela C. Schröter Ph.D, and Michelle A. Bakerson Ph.D), American Evaluation Association annunal conference (2006)
A poster presentation demonstrating an evaluation of a summer school program for middle schoolers in...
Values Driven Evaluation (with P. Cristian Gugiu Ph.D and Nadini Persuad Ph.D), American Evaluation Association annual conference (2006)
Values are the basis for defining what aspects of the evaluand should be considered meritous...
Values and Goal-Free Evaluation: A Case Study, Western Michigan University’s Evaluation Center Evaluation - Café Series (2005)
How does a goal-free evaluator deal with values? Which values? Whose values? This presentation argues...
Other
Sport for Development and Peace (2013)
If you are passionate about finding ways to support your community through the use of...