Dr. Tarek Azzam is a Professor in the Department of Education. Dr. Azzam’s research focuses on developing new methods suited for real-world evaluations. These methods attempt to address some of the logistical, political, and technical challenges that evaluators commonly face in practice. His work aims to improve the rigor and credibility of evaluations and increase its potential impact on programs and policies. His research work involves studying the impact of politics on the evaluation process, and the integration of new technologies and resources, such as crowdsourcing, to develop new evaluation specific methodologies.
Dr. Azzam has also been involved in multiple research and evaluation projects that have included the evaluation of student academic and retention programs at the K–12 and higher education levels, Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) education programs, children’s health programs, and international schools and development program. Dr. Azzam is also the director of the Center for Evaluation & Assessment (CEA) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an active member of the American Evaluation Association.
American Evaluation Association (AEA)
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
European Evaluation Society (EES)
Canadian Evaluation Society
Use and Advocacy in Research and Evaluation, Pushing Beyond Our Comfort Zone, 2021
Data Visualization in Evaluation, 2020
Data Visualization in a complex world, 2020
Use of digital tools to support evaluations, 2020
Transforming data into knowledge: how to leverage data visualization to understand & communicate evaluation findings, 2019
Who are we? Studies examining how we describe ourselves, and how others describe us., 2019
Designing Mixed Methods Studies: Three Examples of Bringing Voice to the Data, 2018
Crowdsourcing as a Method for Qualitative Data Analysis, 2018
Investigating Political Situations in Evaluation, 2018
Using Technology to Enhance Applied Research & Evaluation, 2017
Applying new methodological tools to evaluation, 2017
Applying new methodological tools to evaluation, 2017
Crowdsourcing in Evaluation: potential and pitfalls, 2016
The Potential for Crowdsourcing to Validate Program Theory, 2016
The Future of Research on Evaluation, 2015
Data Visualization & Evaluation Utilization, 2015
Ethics in Evaluation: an Empirical Investigation, 2014
Rolling out Developmental Evaluation: Strategies and Lessons Learned., 2014
Focusing on the purpose of evaluation, 2014
Collaboration in evaluation, 2014
Evaluation governance design, 2014
Evaluation Workshop Series, 2014
The Use of Crowdsourcing in Qualitative Data Analysis., 2013
Political Validity: Can We Measure Politics in Evaluation?, 2013
Best Methods for Providing Evaluation Feedback, 2013
Evaluation credibility and influence: Perspectives of the general public, 2012
Finding a comparison group: Is crowdsourcing a viable option?, 2012
Evaluation capacity building efforts in Africa: New directions, 2012
Evaluation Capacity Development for International Development: Lessons Learned across Multiple Initiatives, 2012
Evaluation capacity building: Experiences from inside and outside Africa, 2012
Evaluation capacity building for Africa by Africans, 2012
When to use evaluation finding? A decision makers dilemma, 2011
Advanced GIS (geographic information system): Using geotatistics in evaluation, 2011
Values and valuing as expressed in political ideology program theory, metrics, and methodology, 2011
Improving evaluation practice using new technologies, 2011
Assessing the effectiveness of co-curricular programs: Building institutional capacity and staff skills, 2011
How the political context affects evaluation methodology, 2010
New challenges and opportunities in international development evaluation, 2010
Data dashboard design for quality monitoring and decision making, 2010
. A descriptive study of evaluator course taking patterns and practice., 2010
Using emerging technologies to improve evaluation practice across contexts., 2009
Examples of complex, interactive conceptual frameworks to guide evaluation planning, enhance data analysis, and for communicating findings, 2008
Interactive conceptual mapping., 2008
The use of geographic information systems in evaluation, 2007
Evaluator contextual responsiveness, 2007
Evaluating a university and district partnership, 2006
How to evaluate your program, 2006
Context influences on evaluation conduct, 2006
Finding a comparison group: Using large scale databases to create matched comparison groups, 2005
Factors associated with a productive evaluation: A case study, 2004
Evaluation utilization: Theoretical perspective on the Lynwood/UCLA partnership, 2003
What's all the talk about? Examining an evaluation listserv, 2003
Tarek Azzam Ryan Arellano. "UC Riverside NSF Plants 3D Program Evaluation Report 2020-2021". Center for Evaluation and Assessment. 2021. [Technical Report]
Ing, M., Burnette III, J. M., Azzam, T., & Wessler, S. R. "Participation in a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience Results in Higher Grades in the Companion Lecture Course". Educational Researcher. 2021. [Refereed Journal Article]
Wanzer, D. L., Azzam, T., Jones, N. D., & Skousen, D. "The role of titles in enhancing data visualization. Evaluation and Program Planning". Evaluation and Program planning. 2021. [Refereed Journal Article]
Tarek Azzam Jessica Renger. "UC Riverside Dynamic Genome Program Evaluation Report 2020". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2020. [Technical Report]
Tarek Azzam Natalie Jones Kathleen Doll Kandice Ocheltree. "Boston University URBAN Program Evaluation Report 2019-2020". Center for Evaluation and Assessment. 2020. [Technical Report]
Tarek Azzam Darrel Skousen Natalie D. Jones. "UC Irvine DECADE Plus Evaluation Report 2019-2020". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2020. [Technical Report]
Jones, N. D., Azzam, T., Wanzer, D. L., Skousen, D., Knight, C., & Sabarre, N. "Enhancing the effectiveness of logic models". American Journal of Evaluation. 2020. [Refereed Journal Article]
Tarek Azzam Megan Mansfield Devin Larson. "INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MYP EVALUATION TECHNICAL REPORT 2019". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2019. [Technical Report]
Tarek Azzam Kimberlee Handloser Phung K. Pham. "Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Diabetes Prevention Program Evaluation Report 2019". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2019. [Technical Report]
Mason, S., & Azzam, T. "In need of an attitude adjustment? the role of data visualization in attitude change and evaluation influence". American Journal of Evaluation. 2019. [Refereed Journal Article]
Hilton, L. G., & Azzam, T. "Crowdsourcing Qualitative Thematic Analysis". American Journal of Evaluation. 2019. [Refereed Journal Article]
Tarek Azzam Kimberlee Handloser Heather Codd. "California State University, San Bernardino CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service Evaluation Report". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2018. [Technical Report]
Tarek Azzam Natalie Jones. "Alternative Fuels and Advanced Transportation Technologies Program Evaluation Report, NSF-NRT". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2018. [Technical Report]
Tarek Azzam. "The Application of the Logic of Evaluation to the Real World". Psychology Today. 2018. [Newsletter Article]
Jacobson, M. R., Whyte, C. E., & Azzam, T. "Using Crowdsourcing to Code Open-Ended Responses: A Mixed Methods Approach". American Journal of Evaluation. 2018. [Refereed Journal Article]
Harman, E., & Azzam, T. "Towards program theory validation: Crowdsourcing the qualitative analysis of participant experiences". Evaluation and program planning. 2018. [Refereed Journal Article]
Jacobson, M. R., & Azzam, T. "The effects of stakeholder involvement on perceptions of an evaluationâs credibility". Evaluation and program planning. 2018. [Refereed Journal Article]
Harman, E., & Azzam, T. "Incorporating public values into evaluative criteria: Using crowdsourcing to identify criteria and standards.". Evaluation and program planning. 2018. [Refereed Journal Article]
Azzam, T., & Whyte, C. E. "Evaluative feedback delivery and the factors that affect success". Evaluation and program planning. 2018. [Refereed Journal Article]
Galport, N., & Azzam, T. "Evaluator training needs and competencies: A gap analysis". American Journal of Evaluation. 2017. [Refereed Journal Article]
Tarek Azzam Natalie Jones Mathew Swope Blake Beckmann. "LEARNING EVALUATION STRATEGY". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2016. [Technical Report]
Bret Levine Tarek Azzam. "University of California, Irvine LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate Program Evaluation". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2016. [Technical Report]
Tiffany McBride, Agnieszka Rykaczewska, Courtney Koletar, Leslie Acuna, Tarek Azzam,. "City of Hope Summer Research Program Evaluation Report". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2016. [Technical Report]
Allison Brown, Stasie Dear, Tarek Azzam. "Evaluation of the USDA-NIFA Hispanic Serving Institutions Consortium Grant Project". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2016. [Technical Report]
Azzam, T. "Book review of: Improving Teacher Evaluation Systems: Making the Most of Multiple Measures.". Teachers College Record. 2016. [Book Review]
Azzam, T. & Harman, E. "Crowdsourcing in Qualitative Data Coding: An Exploratory Study". Evaluation and program planning. 2016. [Refereed Journal Article]
Jacobson, M. R., & Azzam, T. "Methodological Credibility: An Empirical Investigation of the Publicâs Perception of Evaluation Findings and Methods". Evaluation Review. 2016. [Refereed Journal Article]
Azzam, T., & Harman, E. "Crowdsourcing for quantifying transcripts: An exploratory study". Evaluation and program planning. 2016. [Refereed Journal Article]
Donaldson, S., Azzam. T. "Tending the garden of evaluation theory: Flourishing trees and Ph.D.s". In T. Christie, & A. Vo, Evaluation use and decision making. Greenwich, CT: Information Age.. 2015. [Book Chapter]
Azzam, T., & Levine, B. "Politics in evaluation: Politically responsive evaluation in high stakes environments.". Evaluation and program planning. 2015. [Refereed Journal Article]
Coryn, C. L., Ozeki, S., Wilson, L. N., Greenman, G. D., Schröter, D. C., Hobson, K. A., Azzam, T.& Vo, A. T. "Does research on evaluation matter? Findings from a survey of American Evaluation Association members and prominent evaluation theorists and scholars". American Journal of Evaluation. 2015. [Refereed Journal Article]
Azzam, T., & Jacobson, M. "Reflections on future of research on evaluation". New Directions for Evaluation. 2015. [Edited Journal Issue]
Stewart Donaldson Tarek Azzam. "First 5 Riverside Review of ECE Program Evaluation Outcome & Quality Measures". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2014. [Technical Report]
Tarek Azzam Nicole Galport. "EVALUATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE FIPSE DECAD E PROJECT". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2014. [Technical Report]
Tarek Azzam, Samantha Langan, Sarah Mason, Ashley Hunt,. "Evaluation Findings of City of Hopeâs SGV SEPA Collaborative". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2014. [Technical Report]
Azzam, T., & Levine, B. "Negotiating Truth, Beauty, and Justice: A Politically Responsive Approach.". New Directions for Evaluation. 2014. [Edited Journal Issue]
Tarek Azzam Christina Christie Ashaki Jackson. "Girls Inc. Pregnancy Prevention Program Evaluation NIH". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2013. [Technical Report]
Donaldson, S., Azzam, T., Conner, R. "Emerging practices in international development evaluation". Greenwich, CT: Information Age.. 2013. [Edited Book]
Donaldson, S., Azzam, T., Conner, R. "Future directions for improving international development evaluations". In S.I. Donaldson, T. Azzam, & R. Conner, Enhancing development evaluation. Greenwich, CT: Information Age.. 2013. [Book Chapter]
Donaldson, S., Azzam, T., Conner, R. "Searching for approaches to improve international development evaluations". In S.I. Donaldson, T. Azzam, & R. Conner, Enhancing development evaluation. Greenwich, CT: Information Age.. 2013. [Book Chapter]
Jacobson, M , Azzam, T., & Baez, J.G. "The nature and frequency of inclusion of people with disabilities in program evaluation". American Journal of Evaluation. 2013. [Refereed Journal Article]
Azzam, T., & Robinson, D. "GIS in evaluation: Utilizing the power of geographic information systems to represent evaluation data". American Journal of Evaluation. 2013. [Refereed Journal Article]
Azzam, T., & Jacobson, M. "Finding a comparison group: Is online crowdsourcing a viable option?". American Journal of Evaluation. 2013. [Refereed Journal Article]
Yamishiro, C., Azzam, T., & Himmelfarb, I. "Kids, counsel and costs: An empirical study of indigent defense services in the los angeles juvenile delinquency courts". Criminal Law Bulletin. 2013. [Journal Article]
Azzam, T. "Mapping Data, Geographic Information Systems". New Directions for Evaluation. 2013. [Edited Journal Issue]
Azzam, T., Evergreen, S., Germuth, A., & Kistler, S. "Data visualization and Evaluation". New Directions for Evaluation. 2013. [Edited Journal Issue]
Tarek Azzam, Laura Gil-Trejo Matt Galen Yiyin Sandy Hu Miriam Jacobson Bret Levine Albertina Lopez Molly Rottapel. "UC Riverside CHASS Connect Evaluation Report". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2012. [Technical Report]
Jamieson, V. & Azzam, T. "The use of technology in evaluation practice". Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation. 2012. [Journal Article]
Szanyi, M., Azzam T. & Galen, M. "Research on evaluation: A needs assessment.". Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 2012. [Refereed Journal Article]
Tarek Azzam Mathew Galen Michelle Sloper Cristina Tangonan Marcelina Willis Robert Fierro. "NSF UC Riverside SEED Program Evaluation Report". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2011. [Technical Report]
Azzam, T. "Evaluator characteristics and methodological choice". American Journal of Evaluation. 2011. [Refereed Journal Article]
Azzam, T. & Szanyi, M. "Designing evaluations: A study examining preferred evaluation designs". Studies in Educational Evaluation. 2011. [Refereed Journal Article]
Azzam, T. "Evaluator stakeholder responsiveness". American Journal of Evaluation. 2010. [Refereed Journal Article]
Tarek Azzam. "UC Riverside CCRAA Evaluation Report". Claremont Evaluation Center. 2009. [Technical Report]
Azzam, T., & Christie, C. "Using public databases to study relative program impact". Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. 2007. [Refereed Journal Article]
Azzam, T.,Beaulieu, D., & Bugental, D. "Anxiety and hostility in response to the potential threat posed by an âOutsider.â". Emotion. 2007. [Refereed Journal Article]
Abedi, J., Courtney, M., Leon, S., Kao, J., & Azzam, T. "English Language Learners and Math Achievement: A Study of Opportunity to Learn and Language Accommodation". National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST).. 2006. [Technical Report]
Christie, C., & Azzam, T. "What theorists say they do: A brief description of theoristsâ approaches". New Directions for Evaluation. 2005. [Journal Article]
Christie, C., & Azzam, T. "Whatâs all the talk about? Examining the content of an evaluation listserv.". American Journal of Evaluation. 2004. [Refereed Journal Article]
Azzam, T., & Riggio, R. "Community based civic leadership programs: A descriptive investigation". Journal of Leadership and Organizational studies. 2003. [Refereed Journal Article]