Methodological reflections on a transformative participatory evaluation with youth leaders in community-based sexual violence prevention

Linnea Hjelm; Carolee Dodge Francis; Courtney Schwalbach

doi:10.29333/ajqr/18002

Linnea Hjelm ¹ ^* , Carolee Dodge Francis ¹, Courtney Schwalbach ²

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AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 10, Issue 2, pp. 29-50

https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/18002

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Abstract

Transformative participatory evaluation designs are characterized by a commitment to stakeholder engagement and social justice values of inclusion and equity. These designs, when implemented with integrity and reciprocity, can support organizational development and amplify community voice. Guidance on how to honor the values of transformative participatory evaluation is limited, though it can provide evaluators and their nonprofit partners with a clear pathway to designing, sustaining, and executing participatory projects with a transformative agenda. This paper presents a transformative participatory evaluation project with youth sexual violence prevention leaders, in a nonprofit context. Across four stages – initiating the partnership, designing the evaluation, implementing the evaluation, and sharing the evaluation with others for change – we outline the shared decisions, collaborative activities, and meaningful outcomes of this evaluation effort, with particular attention to how transformative participatory principles were embedded in its design. With support, scaffolding, and funding, youth leaders contributed data, directed analysis and interpretation, and developed deliverables to share best practices with diverse audiences. Actionable takeaways for evaluators are provided for each stage to inspire more intentional and expanded use of this design.

Keywords: Participatory Evaluation, Transformative Paradigm, Youth, Capacity-Building, Social Change.

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Citation

Hjelm, L., Dodge Francis, C., & Schwalbach, C. (2026). Methodological reflections on a transformative participatory evaluation with youth leaders in community-based sexual violence prevention. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 10(2), 29-50. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/18002

Hjelm, L., Dodge Francis, C., and Schwalbach, C. (2026). Methodological reflections on a transformative participatory evaluation with youth leaders in community-based sexual violence prevention. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 10(2), pp. 29-50. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/18002

Hjelm L, Dodge Francis C, Schwalbach C. Methodological reflections on a transformative participatory evaluation with youth leaders in community-based sexual violence prevention. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2026;10(2), 29-50. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/18002

Hjelm, Linnea, Carolee Dodge Francis, and Courtney Schwalbach. "Methodological reflections on a transformative participatory evaluation with youth leaders in community-based sexual violence prevention". American Journal of Qualitative Research 2026 10 no. 2 (2026): 29-50. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/18002

Hjelm, Linnea et al. "Methodological reflections on a transformative participatory evaluation with youth leaders in community-based sexual violence prevention". American Journal of Qualitative Research, vol. 10, no. 2, 2026, pp. 29-50. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/18002

Hjelm L, Dodge Francis C, Schwalbach C. Methodological reflections on a transformative participatory evaluation with youth leaders in community-based sexual violence prevention. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2026;10(2):29-50. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/18002