The garden of evaluation approaches: Supporting explicit,theory-informed evaluation practice

Abstract

This article presents an expanded Garden of Evaluation Approaches, a multidimensional framework that bridges theory and practice to strengthen evaluation in complex global contexts. The Garden now maps 13 approaches across intersecting dimensions and introduces two new elements: evaluand focus and lifecycle timing. Developed through systematic review and rubric-based analysis, it operationalises theoretical distinctions into visual profiles and evidence-based resource guides, enabling comparative learning, hybridisation, and context-sensitive design. By integrating underrepresented paradigms alongside established models, the Garden advances pluralism, equity, and methodological innovation. At the same time, it contributes to scholarly debates on classification logic and paradigm integration, offering a dynamic platform for research, pedagogy, and capacity-building. Designed as a living framework, the Garden invites co-creation and adaptation, positioning itself as both a practical decision-support tool and a catalyst for advancing evaluation theory and global practice.