Assignments

Program Evaluation

Assigned Readings

There are as many different kinds of evaluations (some fields call them 'assessments') as there are programs or entities to evaluate or assess. Jargon is the main obstacle in seeing through the nonsensical specializations. To get at the meat of useful methods, techniques, and types of analysis appropriate to the situation, students will have to think about what their program does and how it gets results.

A 'logic model' helps clarify issues and a good theory explains why one should expect the model to work. We'll be discussing those topics as we move through the material.

Read the following texts:

My favorite text book (highly recommended below) has not been updated and has gotten too expensive, so I have selected this alternative:

Impact Evaluation in Practice (World Bank Training Series) [Paperback]

http://www.amazon.com/Impact-Evaluation-Practice-Training-Series/dp/0821385410/ref=pd_sim_b_10

Guiding Principles for Evaluators, American Evaluation Association http://www.eval.org/p/cm/ld/fid=51

Highly recommended texts:

Bingham, Richard D., and Claire L. Felbinger (2002). Evaluation in Practice, 2nd Ed., Chatham House Publishers, Seven Bridges Press, LLP: Chatham, NJ.

Bond, Sally, Boyd, Sally E.; Rapp, Kathleen A. (1997) Taking Stock: A Practical Guide to Evaluating Your Own Programs. Horizon Research, Inc. (http://www.horizon-research.com/horizonresearchwp/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/stock.pdf)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001). Program Evaluation: Program Operations STD Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/std/program/ProgEvaluation.pdf )

Measuring Performance in Higher Education (2001), prepared by the Comptroller of the Treasury’s Office of Research and Educational Accountability, Tennessee General Assembly, Office of Legislative Budget Analysis, and the Department of Finance and Administration, Budget Division

OECD, Outcomes of higher education: Quality relevance and impact (2008)

Performance Management and Evaluation

http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118627571.html

W. K. Kellogg Foundation, (1998) Evaluation Handbook (http://www.wkkf.org/knowledge-center/resources/2006/02/WK-Kellogg-Foundation-Evaluation-Handbook.aspx)

________ (2001) Logic Model Development Guide: Using Logic Models to Bring Together Planning, Evaluation, & Action

Questionnaire/Exam