Member checking for participant ownership—and for fun!

Member checking is often overlooked in evaluations that rely on structured data collection methods rooted in a positivist paradigm. When included, it is typically limited to a confirmatory review of findings, rather than engaging stakeholders in deeper meaning-making and collaborative problem-solving. However, member checking can extend beyond validation to share interpretation and decision-making responsibilities with participants, fostering greater ownership of evaluation findings. This interactive session draws from a collaborative, mixed-methods evaluation of multi-site nutrition education programming in Michigan. The evaluation employed structured qualitative surveys with program coordinators and educators at community-based grantee organizations. Session attendees will participate in a hands-on recreation of the member checking process, reacting to summarized survey findings, generating individual and group interpretations, and collaboratively ranking solutions. In addition to workshopping this approach, the session will share key insights, best practices, and practical considerations for integrating member checking into structured evaluation contexts.
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