The purpose of this article is to present the basic ideas of Bayesian statistics and consider
their relevancefor the topic of utilization ofevaluation research. It is argued that whether
utilization is viewed in terms of modifying thinking concerning social programs or in
terms of affecting specific decisions, the Bayesian approach, with its requirement of
coherence in inference and decision making, can be useful in analyzing data and
expressing results, in guiding appropriate utilization, and in conceptualizing aspects of the
utilization process.
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