Expert Panels in Evaluation

What is it about?

This article explains how expert panels can strengthen program evaluation when used thoughtfully. Drawing on interviews with evaluators, published research, and the authors’ own practice experience, it shows that expert panels are often overlooked because evaluators may be unfamiliar with them or see them as complicated to organize. The article argues that panels can add real value by bringing informed judgment, practical experience, and diverse perspectives into evaluation work. It also cautions that panels need careful design and facilitation. Overall, the article encourages evaluators to consider expert panels more seriously as a useful tool for credible and practical, stronger evaluations.

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Photo by Andrew Moca on Unsplash

Photo by Andrew Moca on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article is important because it draws attention to a valuable but underused evaluation method. Expert panels can help evaluators make sense of complex evidence by bringing together informed judgment, practical experience, and diverse perspectives. At the same time, the article recognizes that panels must be carefully designed and facilitated to be credible and useful. By connecting practice experience, evaluator interviews, and wider debates about expertise and authority, the article encourages the evaluation community to think more seriously about when and how expert panels can strengthen evaluation work.