UCLA research professor of education Marvin Alkin was honored with the Research on Evaluation Award by the American Evaluation Association (AEA) during the organization’s annual conference in Atlanta on Oct. 28. He is a previous recipient of AEA’s Paul F. Lazarsfeld Evaluation Theory Award, one of only two recipients who have won both of the association's scholar-oriented awards.
“This award recognizes some of Marv’s most significant contributions to the evaluation literature and his profound influence on the field,” said professor Christina Christie, chair of the department of education at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and a former student of Alkin's in the school's division of social research methodology. “We are thrilled that he has received this very richly deserved honor.”
Alkin joined the UCLA faculty in 1964 after receiving his doctorate from Stanford University. He has, at various times, served as chair of the education department and associate dean of the school. He was one of the founders of the national Center for the Study of Evaluation – known today as CRESST – and was its director for seven years. Alkin is also noted for his work related to comparative evaluation theory and has published important research studies on the topic of the use of evaluation information in decision-making. He has published seven books on evaluation and more than 150 journal articles, book chapters, monographs and technical reports.
Alkin served as editor-in-chief of the four-volume “Encyclopedia of Educational Research” (6th edition), published by Macmillan in 1992. He was previously editor of the journal Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and co-section editor for the American Journal of Evaluation. He has also served as associate editor of Studies in Educational Evaluation from its inception in 1975 to 2010, and as associate editor of Evaluation Review.
Alkin has been a consultant to numerous national governments; and has directed program evaluations in 14 different countries.
“I am honored to be chosen by the AEA as the recipient of this award,” said Alkin.
