ABSTRACT
The field of professional evaluation has developed over the past three decades as an interdisciplinary field with researchers from many areas of social science contributing to its concepts and practice. There are professional evaluation associations in more than 20 countries and half a dozen journals that specialize in evaluation. Evaluation studies are typically sponsored and funded by branches of government, including federal, state, and local agencies. Studies are carried out by professors, independent consultants, or companies that specialize in such work.
