Developmental Evaluation
Developmental evaluation is an approach designed to support innovation and adaptation in complex, dynamic environments where the intervention itself is still emerging. Articulated by Michael Quinn Patton in his 2011 book, it abandons the assumption of a fixed, pre-specified model to be tested, and instead embeds an evaluator within the design team to provide real-time feedback that informs ongoing development. Its purpose is development — helping social innovators learn, adapt and respond as conditions change — rather than the improvement of a settled program (formative) or the judgement of a completed one (summative).
Read the full method
Sign in with a free account to read this section.
Method map
The neighbourhood of related methods — select a node to explore.
Sources
- Patton, M. Q. (2011). Developmental Evaluation: Applying Complexity Concepts to Enhance Innovation and Use. New York: Guilford Press. ISBN: 9781606238721
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 22). Developmental Evaluation for Innovation and Complexity. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/public-policy/developmental-evaluation
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- Formative EvaluationPublic Policy↔ compare
- Outcome HarvestingPublic Policy↔ compare
- Theory of Change EvaluationPublic Policy↔ compare
- Utilization-Focused EvaluationPublic Policy↔ compare