An updated guide to the core concepts of program evaluation This updated edition of Program Evaluation in Practice covers the core concepts of program evaluation and uses case studies to touch on real-world issues that arise when conducting an evaluation project. This important resource is filled with illustrative examples written in accessible terms and provides a wide variety of evaluation projects that can be used for discussion, analysis, and reflection. The book addresses foundations and theories of evaluation, tools and methods for collecting data, writing of reports, and the sharing of findings. The discussion questions and class activities at the end of each chapter are designed to help process the information in that chapter and to integrate the information from the other chapters, thus facilitating the learning process. As useful for students as it is for evaluators in training, Program Evaluation in Practice is a must-have text for those aspiring to be effective evaluators.
- Includes expanded discussion of basic theories and approaches to program evaluation
- Features a new chapter on objective-based evaluation and a new section on ethics in program evaluation
- Provides more detailed information and in-depth description for each case, including evaluation approaches, fresh references, new readings, and the new Joint Committee Standards for Evaluation
Table of Contents:
List of Tables, Figures, Exhibits, and Boxes xiii
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xxi
The Author xxiii
PART ONE: Introduction 1
CHAPTER ONE: FOUNDATIONS OF PROGRAM EVALUATION 3
What is Program Evaluation? 5
Internal and External Evaluators 11
How to Use This Book 13
The Evaluation Objective 15
Designing and Developing an Evaluation Matrix 19
Data Collection 20
Triangulation of Data 31
Writing the Evaluation Report 31
Dissemination and Use of Evaluation Findings 35
Summary 37
Key Concepts 38
Discussion Questions 38
Class Activities 39
Suggested Reading 39
CHAPTER TWO: ETHICS IN PROGRAM EVALUATION AND AN OVERVIEW OF EVALUATION APPROACHES 41
Ethics in Program Evaluation 41
What is an Evaluation Approach? 43
Objectives-Based Approach 44
Decision-Based Approach 47
Participatory Approach 50
Consumer-Oriented Approach 55
Expertise-Oriented Approach 55
Eclectic Approach 56
Summary 56
Key Concepts 57
Discussion Questions 57
Class Activities 58
Suggested Reading 58
CHAPTER THREE: IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE OBJECTIVES-BASED APPROACH TO EVALUATION 59
Objectives-Based Approach 59
How to Use Evaluation Objectives 64
Summary 66
Key Concepts 67
Discussion Questions 67
Class Activities 67
Suggested Reading 67
PART TWO: CASE STUDIES 69
CHAPTER FOUR: IMPROVING STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS THROUGH INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTION 71
The Evaluator 71
The Program 76
The Evaluation Plan 78
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 81
Final Thoughts 86
Key Concepts 86
Discussion Questions 87
Class Activities 87
Suggested Reading 88
CHAPTER FIVE: EVALUATION OF A COMMUNITY-BASED MENTOR PROGRAM 89
The Evaluator 89
The Program 91
The Evaluation Plan 92
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 97
Final Thoughts 97
Key Concepts 97
Discussion Questions 98
Class Activities 98
Suggested Reading 99
CHAPTER SIX: TEACHER CANDIDATES INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO THEIR STUDENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE 101
The Evaluators 101
The Program 102
The Evaluation Plan 102
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 108
Final Thoughts 108
Key Concepts 108
Discussion Questions 108
Class Activities 109
Suggested Reading 110
CHAPTER SEVEN: EVALUATION OF A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY PROJECT IN A LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICT 111
The Evaluator 111
The Program 112
The Evaluation Plan 113
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 116
Final Thoughts 117
Key Concepts 117
Discussion Questions 117
Class Activities 118
Suggested Reading 119
CHAPTER EIGHT: EXPANSION OF A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE PROGRAM 121
The Evaluators 121
The Program 122
The Evaluation Plan 122
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 124
Final Thoughts 126
Key Concepts 126
Discussion Questions 126
Class Activities 127
Suggested Reading 127
CHAPTER NINE: EVALUATION OF A PROVEN PRACTICE FOR READING ACHIEVEMENT 129
The Evaluators 129
The Program 130
The Evaluation Plan 131
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 131
Final Thoughts 133
Key Concepts 133
Discussion Questions 133
Class Activities 134
Suggested Reading 135
CHAPTER TEN: PROJECT PLAN FOR EVALUATION OF A STATEWIDE AFTER-SCHOOL INITIATIVE 137
The Evaluator 137
The Program 138
The Evaluation Plan 140
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 143
Final Thoughts 144
Key Concepts 144
Discussion Questions 145
Class Activities 145
Suggested Reading 145
CHAPTER ELEVEN: EVALUATION OF A TRAINING PROGRAM IN MATHEMATICS FOR TEACHERS 147
The Evaluators 147
The Program 148
The Evaluation Plan 149
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 151
Final Thoughts 154
Key Concepts 155
Discussion Questions 155
Class Activities 156
Suggested Reading 156
CHAPTER TWELVE: AN EVALUATOR-INTRAINING’S WORK ON A SCHOOL ADVOCACY PROGRAM 159
The Evaluator 159
The Program 160
The Evaluation Plan 162
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 162
Final Thoughts 168
Key Concepts 168
Discussion Questions 168
Class Activities 169
Suggested Reading 170
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: EVALUATION OF A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANT TO INCREASE PARENT INVOLVEMENT 171
The Evaluators 171
The Program 171
The Evaluation Plan 172
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 176
Final Thoughts 177
Key Concepts 178
Discussion Questions 178
Class Activities 178
Suggested Reading 179
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF A NEW TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM 181
The Evaluators 181
The Program 182
The Evaluation Plan 182
Summary of Evaluation Activities and Findings 185
Final Thoughts 185
Key Concepts 186
Discussion Questions 186
Class Activities 186
Suggested Reading 186
References 187
Index 189
