Qualitative Evaluation Audits

Abstract

Growing out of the authors' experiences with two evaluation audits, this article builds upon the discussion of evaluation audits begun in Greene et al. (Evaluation Review, August, 1988). The article highlights thefollowingfour issues salient to evaluation audits: (1) the importance of thorough contract negotiations and the orientation to the evaluation and audit trail, (2) the power of audits to detect bias, (3) the place of standards and criteria in naturalistic evaluations, and (4) the audit purpose. The authors confirm some of the conclusions from the literature while raising new issues for discussion. They conclude that the audit is an excellent tool for addressing the questions of trustworthiness and quality control in naturalistic enquiry.