Stewart I. Donaldson
Dean of the School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences

Dr. Donaldson is Professor and Chair of Psychology, Director of the Institute of Organizational and Program Evaluation Research (IOPER), and Dean of the School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences (SBOS), Claremont Graduate University. He has taught numerous courses and published widely on the topics of organizational psychology, organization and career development, health promotion and disease prevention, evaluation science, and applied research methods. He assumed the deanship of the School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences in 2001. Under his leadership, the school has thrived academically and financially, and has become one of the most popular places in the U.S. to apply for graduate training in the areas of applied psychology and evaluation science.
E-mail: stewart.donaldson@cgu.edu
Research & Practice
Dr. Donaldson has been Director of the Institute of Organizational and Program Evaluation Research (IOPER) for nearly 15 years. The mission of the Institute of Organizational and Program Evaluation Research is to influence the direction and effectiveness organizations and social programs, facilitate constructive social and organizational change, and enrich the quality of life in communities and organizations. Numerous SBOS graduate students have received extensive professional training, mentoring, and education while working in paid internships at IOPER. Internships at IOPER are tightly linked to the SBOS curriculum, and are designed to give graduate students opportunities to apply theories, principles, findings, and methods of psychological and evaluation science to "real world" problems.
During his tenure as director, Dr. Donaldson has provided organizational consulting, research, and program evaluation services to more than 100 different organizations. He has also been Principal Investigator on more than 25 extramural grants/contracts to support research and scholarship. This represents more than $5,000,000 of extramural funding that he has secured to support students, colleagues, and research programs at Claremont Graduate University. In addition, he has recruited and provided support for a stellar group of research faculty who have recently secured more than $3,500,000 of extramural funding. His research and evaluation projects have been supported by a wide range of sponsors including: The National Institute of Mental Health; The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; National Science Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; National Office of Justice Programs; Office of Juvenile Justice Planning; Center for Substance Abuse Prevention; Riverside County Department of Mental Health; State of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program; First 5 Los Angeles; The Rockefeller Foundation; The California Wellness Foundation; The Howard Hughes Foundation; The Hillcrest Foundation; The Weingart Foundation; The Robert Ellis Simon Foundation; The Irvine Foundation; The Fletcher Jones Foundation; The John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation; Commonwealth Capital Partners, L.P and Kaiser Permanente.
Dr. Donaldson has worked collaboratively with his students and colleagues to publish findings from his research and evaluation projects. This work has been cited widely and has appeared in a broad range of peer reviewed journals and edited volumes including: Journal of Applied Psychology; American Psychologist; American Behavioral Scientist; American Journal of Evaluation; New Directions for Evaluation; Evaluation & Program Planning; Journal of Multidisciplinary Evaluation; Human Performance; Journal of Business and Psychology; Journal of Career Development; Work and Stress; Human Resource Development Quarterly; Advances in Developing Human Resources; Employee Assistance Quarterly; Journal of Behavioral Medicine; Health Psychology; Preventive Medicine; Anxiety, Stress, and Coping; Addictive Behaviors; Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; American Journal of Health Behavior; Health Education and Behavior; Journal of Personality; Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine; The Handbook of Evaluation: Policies, Programs, and Practices; Handbook of Program Development for Health Behavior Research; The Science of Prevention: Methodological Advances from Alcohol and Substance Abuse Research; Job Stress Interventions; The Virtual Workplace; Improving Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations; Mass Media and Drug prevention: Classic and Contemporary Theories and Research; Addressing Community Problems: Research and Intervention; Addictive Behaviors: Readings on Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment; What Counts as Credible Evidence in Applied Research and Evaluation Practice; Applied Psychology: New Frontiers and Rewarding Careers; Evaluating Social Programs and Problems: Visions for the New Millennium; Social Psychology and Evaluation; Applied Positive Psychology; Prevention Reading for Educators and Psychometric Methodology.
His recent work includes a number of peer reviewed scientific articles and chapters listed below, and several books including:
What Counts as Credible Evidence in Applied Research and Evaluation Practice? (with Christina A. Christie and Melvin M. Mark; Sage, 2008)
Program Theory-Driven Evaluation Science: Strategies and Applications (Erlbaum, 2007)
Applied Psychology: New Frontiers and Rewarding Careers (with Dale E. Berger and Kathy Pezdek; Erlbaum, 2006)
Evaluating Social Programs and Problems: Visions for the New Millennium (with Michael Scriven; Erlbaum, 2003)
Social Psychology and Evaluation (with Melvin M. Mark and Bernadette Campbell; Guilford Press, forthcoming)
Applied Positive Psychology: Improving Everyday Life, Schools, Work, Health, and Society (forthcoming; with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Jeanne Nakamura)
Stage Intelligence: Secrets to Happiness and Success (in progress; with Chrismon Nofsinger and Echo Garett)
He serves on the Editorial Boards of the American Journal of Evaluation and New Directions for Evaluation, is co-founder and leads the Southern California Evaluation Association, and served as Co-Chair of the Theory-Driven Evaluation and Program Theory Topical Interest Group of the American Evaluation Association (AEA) from 1994-2002. Dr. Donaldson was a 1996 recipient of the AEA's Marcia Guttentag Early Career Achievement Award, in recognition of his work on theory and method and for accomplishments in teaching and practice of program evaluation. In 2001, he was honored with Western Psychological Association's Outstanding Research Award.
Teaching
Dr. Donaldson has taught graduate courses on Positive Organizational Scholarship, Organization Development and Change, Theory-Driven Evaluation Science, Directed Research in Positive Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, Directed Research in Evaluation, and advanced professional seminars on Evaluation Theory and Evaluation Practice (non-residential evaluation certificate courses). He also provides distance education courses and professional development workshops in a variety of university and professional venues on topics such as Applied Psychology, Basics of Evaluation and Applied Research, Practical Program Evaluation, What Counts as Credible Evidence in Applied Research and Evaluation?, and Advanced Applications of Program Theory. Professor Donaldson has recently given talks and workshops in more than 25 cities throughout the US, as well as overseas in places such as Africa, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Australia, and in several regions of Canada and the United Kingdom.
He has served as Research Project Supervisor, Research or Academic Advisor, Ph.D. Dissertation Chair or Committee Member, or Master's Thesis Chair or Member for more than 100 organizational behavior, evaluation, or applied social psychology Ph.D. and M.A. students during the past decade. He is currently one of the primary faculty mentors in our Positive Organizational Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Evaluation and Applied Research Methods programs.
Dr. Donaldson has mentored and coached a wide range of diverse professionals and graduate students. Click here to view a sample of the types of projects he has helped others develop and complete.
Sample of Recent Publications (2000 to Present)
Click on any of the red titles below to read selected articles.
Donaldson, S.I. & Ko, I. (under review). Positive organizational psychology, behavior, and scholarship: A review of the emerging literature and evidence base.
Donaldson, S.I. (forthcoming). Determining what works in the emerging positive social and human sciences. In S.I. Donaldson, M. Csikszentmihalyi, and J. Nakamura (Eds.) Applied Positive Psychology: Improving Everyday Life, Schools, Work, Health, and Society.
Donaldson, S.I. (forthcoming). A practitioner's guide for applying the science of positive psychology. In S.I. Donaldson, M. Csikszentmihalyi, and J. Nakamura (Eds.) Applied Positive Psychology: Improving Everyday Life, Schools, Work, Health, and Society.
LaVelle, J., & Donaldson, S.I. (forthcoming). University-based evaluation training programs in the United States 1980-2008: An empirical examination.
Donaldson, S.I. & LaVelle, J. (forthcoming). Roles for the university in educating next generation evaluators: Empowering diverse agents of positive change.
Donaldson, S.I., & Crano, W.D. (forthcoming). Theory-driven evaluation science: Enhancing social and organizational psychology. In M. M. Mark, S. I. Donaldson, & B. Campbell (Eds.), Social psychology and program/policy evaluation. New York: Guilford.
Donaldson, S.I. (2008). In search of the blueprint for an evidence–based global society. In S. I. Donaldson, C. A. Christie, & M.M. Mark (Eds.), What counts as credible evidence in applied research and evaluation practice? Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Donaldson, S.I. (2008). A practitioner's guide for gathering credible evidence. In S. I. Donaldson, C. A. Christie, & M. M. Mark (Eds.), What counts as credible evidence in applied research and evaluation practice? Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Donaldson, S.I., Christie, C. A., & Mark, M.M. (2008). What counts as credible evidence in applied research and evaluation practice? Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Preskill, H., & Donaldson, S.I. (2008). Improving the evidence base for career development programs: Making use of the evaluation profession and positive psychology movement. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 10(1), 104-121.
Donaldson, S.I. (2007). Program theory-driven evaluation science: Strategies and applications. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Donaldson, S.I. & Bligh, M. (2006). Rewarding careers applying positive psychological science to improve quality of work life and organizational effectiveness. In S.I. Donaldson, D.E. Berger, & K. Pezdek (Eds.), Applied psychology: New frontiers and rewarding careers. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Donaldson, S.I., & Berger, D.E. (2006). The rise and promise of applied psychology in the 21st century. In S.I. Donaldson, D.E. Berger, & K. Pezdek (Eds.), Applied psychology: New frontiers and rewarding careers. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Donaldson, S.I., & Christie, C.A. (2006). Emerging career opportunities in the transdiscipline of evaluation science. In S. I. Donaldson, D.E. Berger, & K. Pezdek (Eds.), Applied psychology: New frontiers and rewarding careers. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Donaldson, S.I., Berger, D.E., & Pezdek, K. (2006). Applied psychology: New frontiers and rewarding careers. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Donaldson, S.I., & Lipsey, M.W. (2006). Roles for theory in contemporary evaluation practice: Developing practical knowledge. In I. Shaw, J.C. Greene, & M.M. Mark (Eds.), The Handbook of Evaluation: Policies, Programs, and Practices (pp. 56-75). London: Sage.
Donaldson, S.I., & Christie, C.A. (2005). The 2004 Claremont Debate: Lipsey versus Scriven. Determining causality in program evaluation and applied research: Should experimental evidence be the gold standard? Journal of Multidisciplinary Evaluation, 3, 60-77.
Donaldson, S.I. (2005). Using program theory-driven evaluation science to crack the Da Vinci Code. New Directions for Evaluation, 106, 65-84.
Alkin, M.A., Christie, C.A., Greene, J.C., Henry, G.T., Donaldson, S.I. & King, J.A. (2005). The reality of unreal situations: Caveats and insights. New Directions for Evaluation, 106, 99-109.
Donaldson, S.I. (2004). Using professional evaluation to improve the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations. In R.E. Riggio & S. Smith Orr (Eds.), Improving leadership in nonprofit organizations. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Donaldson, S.I., & Gooler, L. E. (2003). Theory-driven evaluation in action: Lessons from a $20 million statewide work and health initiative. Evaluation and Program Planning, 26, 355-366.
Donaldson, S.I., & Scriven, M. (2003). Diverse visions for evaluation in the new millennium: Should we integrate or embrace diversity? In S. I. Donaldson & M. Scriven (Eds.), Evaluating social programs and problems: Visions for the new millennium (pp. 3-16). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Donaldson, S.I. (2003). Theory-driven program evaluation in the new millennium. In S. I. Donaldson & M. Scriven (Eds.), Evaluating social programs and problems: Visions for the new millennium (pp. 109-141). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Donaldson, S.I. & Scriven, M. (2003). Evaluating social programs and problems: Visions for the new millennium. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Donaldson, S.I., & Gooler, L.E. (2002). Summary of the evaluation of The California Wellness Foundation's $20 million Work and Health Initiative. Institute for Organizational and Program Evaluation Research, Claremont Graduate University.
Donaldson, S.I., & Gooler, L.E. (2002). Theory-driven evaluation of the Work and Health Initiative: A focus on Winning New Jobs. American Journal of Evaluation, 23(3) 341-346.
Fitzpatrick, J. (2002). Dialog with Stewart Donaldson about the theory-driven evaluation of the Work and Health Initiative. American Journal of Evaluation, 23(3) 347-365.
Donaldson, S.I., Gooler, L.E., & Scriven, M. (2002). Strategies for managing evaluation anxiety: Toward a psychology of program evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation, 23(3) 261-273.
Donaldson, S.I. (2002). High-potential mediators of drug-abuse prevention program effects. In W. D. Crano & Burgoon, M. (Eds.), Mass media and drug prevention: Classic and contemporary theories and research (pp. 215-230). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Donaldson, S.I., & Grant-Vallone, E.J. (2002). Understanding self-report bias in organizational behavior research. Journal of Business and Psychology, 17(2), 245-262.
Grant-Vallone, E.J., & Donaldson, S.I. (2001). Consequences of work-family conflict on employee well-being over time. Work & Stress, 15(3), 214-226.
Ensher, E.A., Grant-Vallone, E.J., & Donaldson, S.I. (2001). Effects of perceived discrimination on organizational citizenship behavior, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 12, 53-72.
Donaldson, S.I. (2001). Overcoming our negative reputation: Evaluation becomes known as a helping profession. American Journal of Evaluation, 22, 355-361.
Donaldson, S.I. (2001). Mediator and moderator analysis in program development. In S. Sussman (Ed.), Handbook of program development for health behavior research and practice (pp. 470-496). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Donaldson, S.I., Street, G., Sussman, S., & Tobler, N. (2001). Using meta-analyses to improve the design of interventions. In S. Sussman (Ed.), Handbook of program development for health behavior research and practice (pp. 449-466). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Mersman, J.L. & Donaldson, S.I. (2000). Factors affecting the convergence of self-peer ratings on contextual and task performance. Human Performance, 13, 299-322.
Kent, D.R., Donaldson, S.I., Smith, P., & Wyrick, P. (2000). Evaluating criminal justice programs designed to reduce crime by targeting repeat gang offenders. Evaluation and Program Planning, 23(1), 113-122.
Au, J., & Donaldson, S.I. (2000). Social influences as explanations for substance use differences amongst Asian-American and European-American adolescents. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 32(1), 15-23.
Donaldson, S.I., Thomas, C. W., Graham, J. W., Au, J., & Hansen, W.B. (2000). Verifying drug prevention program effects using reciprocal best friend reports. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 23(6), 221-234.
Donaldson, S.I., Ensher, E.A., & Grant-Vallone, E.J. (2000). Longitudinal examination of mentoring relationships on organizational commitment and citizenship behavior. Journal of Career Development, 26(4), 233-248.
Sample of Influential Works from the 1990s
Donaldson, S.I., Gooler, L.E., & Weiss, R. (1998). Promoting health and well-being through work: Science and practice. In X. B. Arriaga & S. Oskamp (Eds.), Addressing community problems: Research and intervention (pp. 160-194). Newbury Park: Sage.
Donaldson, S.I., & Weiss, R. (1998). Health, well-being, and organizational effectiveness in the virtual workplace. In M. Igbaria, & M. Tan (Eds.), The virtual workplace (pp. 24-44). Harrisburg, PA: Idea Group Publishing.
Graham, J. W., Hofer, S. M., Donaldson, S. I., MacKinnon, D. P., & Schafer, J. L. (1997). Analysis with missing data in prevention research. In K. J. Bryant, M. Windle, & S. G. West (Eds.), The science of prevention: Methodological advances from alcohol and substance abuse research (pp. 325-366). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Donaldson, S.I., Sussman, S., MacKinnon, D.P., Severson, H.H., Glyn, T., Murray, D.M., & Stone, E.J. (1996). Drug abuse prevention programming: Do we know what content works? American Behavioral Scientist, 39, 868-883.
Donaldson, S.I., Graham, J.W., Piccinin, A.M., & Hansen, W.B. (1995). Resistance-skills training and onset of alcohol use: Evidence for beneficial and potentially harmful effects in public schools and in private Catholic schools. Health Psychology, 14, 291-300.
Donaldson, S.I., Graham, J.W., & Hansen, W.B. (1994). Testing the generalizability of intervening mechanism theories: Understanding the effects of school-based substance use prevention interventions. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 17, 195-216.
Graham, J.W., & Donaldson, S.I. (1993). Evaluating interventions with differential attrition: The importance of nonresponse mechanisms and use of follow-up data. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 119-128.
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