This pragmatic evaluator's companion from leaders in the field provides essential guidance for designing, implementing, and managing exemplary evaluations using established and emerging methods, designs, and analyses. With contributions from skilled experts, the Handbook has a unique focus on the competencies identified by the American Evaluation Association as critical for evaluators. Balancing rigor with practical, mentor-style guidance, chapters build the reader's skills for tailoring studies creatively to address specific evaluation situations and contexts; optimizing communication and collaborative decision making; and centering equity and justice. This insider’s guide is replete with detailed examples, real-world scenarios, and other helpful features, including chapter overviews and an end-of-book glossary.

Debra J. Rog, PhD, is CEO and Founder of Evaluation Thought Partners, providing strategic and design help to a range of clients. She retired as Vice President for Social Policy and Economics Research at Westat in 2025. Throughout her career, Dr. Rog has directed numerous evaluation studies of homeless and housing interventions and systems, mental health and substance abuse interventions, public health programs and initiatives, and criminal justice initiatives, among other areas. She is a recognized expert in evaluation practice and applied research design. Dr. Rog is Associate Director for Faculty Affairs at The Evaluators’ Institute and past president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). She has been recognized for her evaluation work by the National Institute of Mental Health, the AEA, the Eastern Evaluation Research Society, and the Knowledge Utilization Society.

Leonard Bickman, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Vanderbilt University, former Director of the Center for Evaluation and Program Improvement at Peabody College, and Research Professor at Florida International University. Dr. Bickman is a nationally recognized leader in program evaluation and mental health services research on children and adolescents. He is past president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA) and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Dr. Bickman's contributions have been recognized with the Outstanding Evaluation Award from the AEA, the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Research in Public Policy from the American Psychological Association, and the Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, among other honors.