Pragmatic and Use Designs

In this chapter, we move on to discuss design approaches that can be clustered under the pragmatic paradigm and use branch (Mertens & Wilson, 2019), with a particular focus on developmental evaluation (Patton 2011, 2015a). Developmental evaluation falls within the wider domain of utilization-focused evaluation (UFE), also developed by Patton (2008). UFE, as an approach, is underpinned by a principle of usefulness to intended users; evaluation processes and outcomes should provide intended users—those with the authority and responsibility to act to ensure and promote program quality—with information to facilitate effective, evidence-based decision-making and action. This approach to evaluation is well suited to addressing concerns and needs arising from a recent and rapid growth of English Medium Instruction (EMI) in universities throughout Asia, as we illustrate through the example of an EMI program in an Indonesian university.