Review: Christine Schwarz (2006). Evaluation as Modern Ritual: On the Ambivalence of Societal Rationalisation Using the Example of Virtual University Projects / Udo Kuckartz, Thorsten Dresing, Stefan Rädiker & Claus Stefer (2007). Qualitative Evaluation

Evaluation is a term enjoying increasing popularity in German-speaking regions, a trend verified by two recent publications. One is a study by Christine SCHWARZ devoted to the issue of the social functions of evaluations; the other is a volume edited by Udo KUCKARTZ, Thorsten DRESING, Stefan RÄDIKER...

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Main Author: Christian Lüders
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: FQS 2008-05-01
Series:Forum: Qualitative Social Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/431
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author Christian Lüders
author_facet Christian Lüders
author_sort Christian Lüders
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description Evaluation is a term enjoying increasing popularity in German-speaking regions, a trend verified by two recent publications. One is a study by Christine SCHWARZ devoted to the issue of the social functions of evaluations; the other is a volume edited by Udo KUCKARTZ, Thorsten DRESING, Stefan RÄDIKER, and Claus STEFER, which seeks to present a concept with practical relevance for qualitative evaluations. While to their credit both publications have helped to put this issue onto the German-speaking agenda, the specific desiderata of each are clear. Building upon a qualitative study of the functions of evaluations in the domain of university e-learning and drawing upon the concept of rituals, Christine SCHWARZ formulates a wide-ranging critique of evaluations under the conditions of the New Public Management. She stresses the ambivalences of the processes of rationalisation associated with evaluations. The book provides a rich and wide array of citations for the basic critique of evaluations. However, for those who seek to delve more seriously into the practical and social-theoretical implications of the evaluation boom, the book is a missed opportunity since it puts preconceptions before empirical findings. Against the background of a qualitative university course evaluation Udo KUCKARTZ, Thorsten DRESING, Stefan RÄDIKER, and Claus STEFER outline a practical guide and present a way that qualitative evaluations can be carried out in a short time with the aid of MAXQDA. Regrettably the book fails to live up to the promise of its title. It does not provide an entry into the practice of qualitative evaluations, but, at best, provides insights into the practical relevance of the procedures selected within the framework of the study while documenting how MAXQDA can be used in the context of qualitative evaluations. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs080273
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spelling doaj.art-9e90042c76d5410282c667d3a2e975b52022-12-22T02:58:15ZdeuFQSForum: Qualitative Social Research1438-56272008-05-0192430Review: Christine Schwarz (2006). Evaluation as Modern Ritual: On the Ambivalence of Societal Rationalisation Using the Example of Virtual University Projects / Udo Kuckartz, Thorsten Dresing, Stefan Rädiker & Claus Stefer (2007). Qualitative EvaluationChristian Lüders0Deutsches JugendinstitutEvaluation is a term enjoying increasing popularity in German-speaking regions, a trend verified by two recent publications. One is a study by Christine SCHWARZ devoted to the issue of the social functions of evaluations; the other is a volume edited by Udo KUCKARTZ, Thorsten DRESING, Stefan RÄDIKER, and Claus STEFER, which seeks to present a concept with practical relevance for qualitative evaluations. While to their credit both publications have helped to put this issue onto the German-speaking agenda, the specific desiderata of each are clear. Building upon a qualitative study of the functions of evaluations in the domain of university e-learning and drawing upon the concept of rituals, Christine SCHWARZ formulates a wide-ranging critique of evaluations under the conditions of the New Public Management. She stresses the ambivalences of the processes of rationalisation associated with evaluations. The book provides a rich and wide array of citations for the basic critique of evaluations. However, for those who seek to delve more seriously into the practical and social-theoretical implications of the evaluation boom, the book is a missed opportunity since it puts preconceptions before empirical findings. Against the background of a qualitative university course evaluation Udo KUCKARTZ, Thorsten DRESING, Stefan RÄDIKER, and Claus STEFER outline a practical guide and present a way that qualitative evaluations can be carried out in a short time with the aid of MAXQDA. Regrettably the book fails to live up to the promise of its title. It does not provide an entry into the practice of qualitative evaluations, but, at best, provides insights into the practical relevance of the procedures selected within the framework of the study while documenting how MAXQDA can be used in the context of qualitative evaluations. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs080273http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/431evaluationqualitative evaluations researchevaluation as ritualfunctions of evaluationevaluation of teachingpractical guideMAXQDA
spellingShingle Christian Lüders
Review: Christine Schwarz (2006). Evaluation as Modern Ritual: On the Ambivalence of Societal Rationalisation Using the Example of Virtual University Projects / Udo Kuckartz, Thorsten Dresing, Stefan Rädiker & Claus Stefer (2007). Qualitative Evaluation
Forum: Qualitative Social Research
evaluation
qualitative evaluations research
evaluation as ritual
functions of evaluation
evaluation of teaching
practical guide
MAXQDA
title Review: Christine Schwarz (2006). Evaluation as Modern Ritual: On the Ambivalence of Societal Rationalisation Using the Example of Virtual University Projects / Udo Kuckartz, Thorsten Dresing, Stefan Rädiker & Claus Stefer (2007). Qualitative Evaluation
title_full Review: Christine Schwarz (2006). Evaluation as Modern Ritual: On the Ambivalence of Societal Rationalisation Using the Example of Virtual University Projects / Udo Kuckartz, Thorsten Dresing, Stefan Rädiker & Claus Stefer (2007). Qualitative Evaluation
title_fullStr Review: Christine Schwarz (2006). Evaluation as Modern Ritual: On the Ambivalence of Societal Rationalisation Using the Example of Virtual University Projects / Udo Kuckartz, Thorsten Dresing, Stefan Rädiker & Claus Stefer (2007). Qualitative Evaluation
title_full_unstemmed Review: Christine Schwarz (2006). Evaluation as Modern Ritual: On the Ambivalence of Societal Rationalisation Using the Example of Virtual University Projects / Udo Kuckartz, Thorsten Dresing, Stefan Rädiker & Claus Stefer (2007). Qualitative Evaluation
title_short Review: Christine Schwarz (2006). Evaluation as Modern Ritual: On the Ambivalence of Societal Rationalisation Using the Example of Virtual University Projects / Udo Kuckartz, Thorsten Dresing, Stefan Rädiker & Claus Stefer (2007). Qualitative Evaluation
title_sort review christine schwarz 2006 evaluation as modern ritual on the ambivalence of societal rationalisation using the example of virtual university projects udo kuckartz thorsten dresing stefan radiker claus stefer 2007 qualitative evaluation
topic evaluation
qualitative evaluations research
evaluation as ritual
functions of evaluation
evaluation of teaching
practical guide
MAXQDA
url http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/431
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