Evaluation research has been subject to a tremendous boom in recent years advancing to become an important instrument for analysing the effectiveness of government programmes as well as reviewing the performance of and auditing both public and private sector organisations. The purpose of this book is to explore the advances that have taken place in evaluation research and to place these advances in their correct context thus providing a comprehensive and impelling overview of the subject. As well as exploring various concepts, theories and methods used in evaluation, this volume also presents the societal function of evaluation and the social processes associated with performing effective evaluations. By using examples from all over the world the books shows the typical way in which evaluations are processed and how they can be used in a variety of policy fields. It is a must-read for students and scholars with a background in evaluation as well as newcomers to the subject who will find this new contribution to the literature on the subject an invaluable tool.

New media, especially in relation to video gaming, now occupies a dominant position within popular culture. The book offers new and critical perspectives on computer game culture. It illustrates key debates in game studies and is a guide to complexity and diversity of the phenomenon.It maintains its originality in bringing together international experts from among social scientists, game designers, artists and literature scholars. Internationally renowned media and literature scholars, social scientists, game designers and artists explore the cultural potential of computer games in this rich anthology, which introduces the latest approaches in the central fields of game studies and provides an extensive survey of contemporary game culture.

By explaining the role of evaluation in modern societies and its historical development in the USA and Europe this book highlights the scientific roots of Evaluation and offers an overview of its fundamental theories and concepts. The process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting is explored giving an insight into the course of an evaluation.

Internationally renowned media and literature scholars, social scientists, game designers and artists explore the cultural potential of computer games in this rich anthology, which introduces the latest approaches in the central fields of game studies and provides an extensive survey of contemporary game culture.