The American Evaluation Association (AEA) is a professional association for evaluators and those with a professional interest in the field of evaluation, including practitioners, faculty, students, funders, managers, and government decision-makers. As of 2014, AEA has approximately 7057 members from all 50 US states and over 60 other countries.
The American Evaluation Association's mission is to:
Improve evaluation practices and methodsIncrease evaluation usePromote evaluation as a profession andSupport the contribution of evaluation to the generation of theory and knowledge about effective human action. AEA Publishes the AEA: Guiding Principles for Evaluators, which set expectations for evaluators in the areas of: (a) systematic inquiry, (b) competence, (c) integrity/honesty, (d) respect for people, and (e) responsibilities for general and public welfare.
AEA sponsors two journals. The American Journal of Evaluation is published quarterly through SAGE Publications and includes individually peer-reviewed articles on a range of topics in the field. New Directions for Evaluation is a peer-reviewed thematic sourcebook published quarterly through Jossey-Bass/Wiley, with each issue focusing on a different topic or aspect of evaluation.
As of September 2014, AEA has 51 topically-focused subgroups. Each subgroup develops a strand of content for the association’s annual conference, and works to build a community of practice through various means.
Advocacy and Policy ChangeAlcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental HealthAssessment in Higher EducationBusiness, Leadership, and PerformanceCluster, Multi-Site and Multi-Level EvaluationCollaborative, Participatory & Empowerment EvaluationCollege Access ProgramsCommunity PsychologyCosts, Effectiveness, Benefits, and EconomicsCrime and JusticeData Visualization and ReportingDisabilities and Other Vulnerable PopulationsDisaster and Emergency Management EvaluationDistance Education and Other Educational TechnologiesEnvironmental Program EvaluationEvaluating the Arts and CultureEvaluation Managers and SupervisorsEvaluation PolicyEvaluation UseExtension Education EvaluationFeminist Issues in EvaluationGovernment EvaluationGraduate Student and New EvaluatorsHealth EvaluationHuman Services EvaluationIndependent ConsultingIndigenous Peoples in EvaluationIntegrating Technology into EvaluationInternal EvaluationInternational and Cross-Cultural EvaluationLesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender IssuesMixed Methods in EvaluationMultiethnic Issues in EvaluationNeeds AssessmentNon-Profits and Foundations EvaluationOrganizational Learning and Evaluation Capacity BuildingPrek-12 Educational EvaluationProgram Theory and Theory Driven EvaluationProgram DesignQualitative MethodsQuantitative Methods: Theory and DesignResearch on EvaluationResearch, Technology, and Development EvaluationSocial Network AnalysisSocial WorkStem EvaluationSystems in EvaluationTeaching of EvaluationTheories of EvaluationTranslational Research EvaluationYouth Focus EvaluationMerger of ERS and ENet
In 1986, the Evaluation Research Society and Evaluation Network merged to become the American Evaluation Association.
