Programme Implementers’ Experiences of Process Use Types in Three Evaluation Contexts in Northern Ghana

Abstract

This article seeks to illustrate how the understanding of process use can be enhanced by the use of Q methodology. It explores the subjectivity in the experiences of programme implementers of process use in three evaluation contexts in Northern Ghana. Three main perspectives emerged on the process use types—organisational learning and programme strengthening; evaluation capacity building; and integrative. The study found that Q methodology contributes significantly to process use in three main ways: It reduces the wide range of perspectives on process use to a few manageable perspectives thereby enabling them to be looked at holistically; it brings together the components in a perspective enabling a coherent story to be told of a perspective; and it affirms constructivist learning as underpinning process use. Q methodology was also found to provide an exciting and insightful experience for the programme evaluation participants, students and academic researchers, even though knowledge and skills in Africa on the methodology was very scant. The Q community should therefore reach out to some universities in Africa in order to promote the methodology, which has so much potential to contribute to societal development.