Program Evaluation in Religious Domain: A Systematic Mapping and Analysis of Academic Literature

Program evaluation helps improve or determine the merit or worth of activities with goals to achieve. However, it remains uncertain whether religious communities fully leverage program evaluation to enhance their initiatives or make more informed decisions. This research aims to explore the current status of program evaluation within religious communities and analyze discussions concerning the characteristics of evaluations, including their purpose, evaluand (programs being evaluated), and methods. By systematically mapping the academic literature on religion, we identified 182 peer-reviewed articles related to program evaluation in this context and used these articles as samples. Quantitative content analysis reveals findings that indicate a growing academic interest in program evaluation within the religious domain. They also highlight several field-specific traits: 1) most evaluations are associated with educational programs; 2) the need to assess the outcomes or impacts of a program often drives the evaluation process; and 3) quantitative research methods are the most commonly used approach. This study represents a groundbreaking effort to explore the relationship between religion and evaluation within academic literature. It adds insights into current evaluation practices in religious contexts and encourages interdisciplinary discussions to enhance the evaluation culture in this field.