Basic guides
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This page has basic guides, that
are plain and clear descriptions of
what is evaluation, what is it all about. Must reads for
introduction to evaluation for those without technical
backgrounds.
First, we present some basic definitions of program evaluation.
Second we have links to sites with basic definitions.
Basic definitions of evaluation
"Program evaluation finds out exactly what a program does, to
whom, when, and where, and how it does it—and whether these
procedures and outcomes are ethical, cost-feasible, comparatively
cost-effective, generalizable, and intended"
Michael Scriven, posted
on the email discussion list of the American Evaluation
Association, Saturday, January 28, 2012, posted here by
permission.
Program evaluation answers these questions
- Does the program work? And how can it be improved?
- Is the program worthwhile?
- Are there alternatives that would be better?
- Are there unintended consequences?
- Are the program goals appropriate and useful?
Gene Shackman's Program
Evaluation Beginners Guide http://gsociology.icaap.org/methods/BasicguidesHandouts.html
- How do we know what is being achieved- the
results, if any, of the work? Are they meeting people‘s needs-
which people?
- What do users/members/clients/beneficiaries think
about how they do our work?
- What do the funders think- is their money well
spent?
- What are they trying to achieve- and how will
they know we they are succeeding? Are they effective?
- What needs to change and how?
What is Evaluation? The
Evaluation Trust http://www.evaluationtrust.org/evaluation/evaluate
- Program evaluation asking questions and gathering information
in order to:
- assess how a program is coming along (process
evaluation); and
- compare the program objectives with the
actual results (outcome evaluation).
- Evaluation is a way of measuring whether a program is doing what
it is supposed to do.
- Evaluation provides an opportunity to develop and improve a
program.
- The purpose of evaluation is to understand why things work well
or why things don't work. Evaluation also allows you to consider
possible improvements.
Community Action
Resources, What is Evaluation. Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/pubs/services/_adp-apd/evaluating-evaluation/index-eng.php#a9
Links to
resources with basic information
Introduction to Program Evaluation http://www.cdc.gov/tb/programs/Evaluation/default.htm
webinar
in
powerpoint
slides, along with text. Overview of eval, looks very good.
"This course is designed for people new to the field of program
evaluation and is based on CDC’s Framework for Program
Evaluation."
Introduction to Program Evaluation
http://www.pitt.edu/~super1/lecture/lec0991/ Brief
overview of major concepts. A slideshow. You can download gif's of
slides.
There is something strange about this website. If I make it a link,
you can't get to it. If you copy and paste, it works.
Introduction to Evaluation http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/intreval.htm
This
page
is
an introduction to basic ideas, types, questions. The next
page http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/pecycle.htm
is
the
planning-evaluation
cycle.
Evaluation Manual http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/specific-groups/program-planner.html
overview of most of evaluation.
Evaluation A Beginners Guide http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL32/003/1999
very brief overview of what, why, when, and some of the
how. Pretty user friendly. Available in pdf and word, or one html
document.
First steps in monitoring and evaluation http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=112
brief
overview
of
five steps of evaluation. Whats your aim, objective, performance
indicators, monitoring and reporting results.
What
is evaluation, Why evaluate
The Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/other_resrch/pm_guide_eval/reports/pmguide/pmguide_toc.html
best
chapters
include
Chapter 1: Why evaluate your program?, and Chapter 2: What is
program evaluation?
What is evaluation? and Why evaluate? http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=40
from Charities Evaluation Service.
What is Evaluation? http://www.evaluationtrust.org/evaluation/evaluate
from the evaluation trust.
What is evaluation? http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/pubs/services/_adp-apd/evaluating-evaluation/index-eng.php
See chapter II. from Health Canada. Also includes a
nice overview of the purpose and process. Another chapter is
"Why evaluate".
This is from this on line guide "Community Action
Resources for Inuit, Métis and First Nations: Evaluating"
Evaluation
FAQs
Approaching An Evaluation-- Ten Issues to Consider http://www.bradroseconsulting.com/Approaching_an_Evaluation.html
plus
some
additional
questions. From Brad Rose Consulting.
Frequently asked questions http://www.ceni.org/information/faq.asp
from the Community Evaluation Northern Ireland
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Last validated 9/26/11