ABSTRACT

Evaluation research is a fairly new activity in Denmark. Though it has been known for some time, albeit under different names, evaluation research is very much a phenomenon of the late 1970s and, especially, the 1980s. Explanations must probably be identified both on the demand and supply sides in relation to evaluation. With regard to the demand for evaluation, Denmark has alternative feedback mechanisms to inform policymakers and administrators about the implementation of public policies. The low level of conflict is reinforced by the high degree of homogeneity in Denmark, both at the national level and among local governments. Legislation also seems to have much more authority and legitimacy in Denmark than in the United States. Broadly speaking, applied social-science research—or “sectorial” research, as it is named in Denmark due to its relevance for different sectors in Danish society—is carried out at institutions of higher education, within the public administration itself, or at so-called institutes of sectorial research.