Evaluation Techniques For Difficult To Measure Programs
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Evaluation Techniques for Difficult to Measure Programs
Evaluation Techniques for Difficult to Measure Programs demonstrates the weaknesses of poorly crafted outcome measures and provides the reader with techniques to strengthen programs and provide clients with the quality services they deserve. Programs with difficult to measure outcomes provide inviting environments for weak evaluations and this book illustrates why typical evaluation methods result in less than stellar results. Examples from difficult to measure programs are used to present techniques that can make any evaluation more rigorous. This book will guide the reader in overcoming inappropriate measures, false perceptions and misconceptions that plague many evaluations. This book provides a new perspective on program evaluation that engages difficult to measure programs, and the aspects of developing an evaluation plan that usually result in a less than stellar result. Agencies settle for "Good enough" because people are not knowledge able enough of evaluation processes to develop something that is more robust. Unfortunately, it is easy to sell a weak evaluation to people who do not know the difference. This modern day Emperor's New Clothes behavior does little to strengthen the program. Every program manager and Director likes to have a report that tells them that what they are doing is having a tremendous positive impact on their clients. Usually, if you ask them to describe the benefits to the client, they will instead describe the activities that take place in the program. Others will tell you how much better off the client is because of the program, but many of them cannot give any substantial evidence that the change was a result of the program. Program evaluation has developed as a focused field of practice that has continued to evolve through fad, fashion and a sound application of scientific measurement and analysis. Just counting the numbers of clients served left human service staffs and funding bureaucrats wondering if the expected results were being achieved through the program efforts. One could justify asking for additional funding if additional clients were to be served, but the question of effectiveness of treatment was never answered by statistics of numbers of clients served. Programs resulted in things being different, but were they better? If they were better, was the improvement worth the investment? Could the same change take place with fewer resources? The purpose of this book is to take the reader beyond describing what should be done and through the meaningful questions of why. Why conduct a program evaluation? Why do clients actually need the services? Why do the services actually reduce the needs? Why do staff and managers believe the program is actually working? Why do staff members resist efforts to evaluate their program? This book uses examples of difficult to measure programs to show techniques that can make any evaluation more rigorous. It explains why typical methods fall short and it explains why many staff members settle for less than stellar measurement techniques. Focusing on overcoming inappropriate measures and perceptions provides the basic framework for this book. This book covers the evaluation process in depth and provides details on communication and relationships issues that are only touched upon in other texts. Pretending to have a good relationship might well result in pretending that the data are accurate. Techniques for developing trust and communication vary depending on the audience. Each audience, and their particular needs, is discussed within the frameworks of planning, data collecting and reporting.
Instruments & Evaluation Designs Used in Gifted Programs
Documents practices in the evaluation of gifted programs and on investigating the factors which make evaluation more useful to the decision-maker. Explores the validity of the assertions made in the literature about evaluations of programs for the gifted, analyzes current evaluation literature for generic guidelines for effective evaluations, and studies the utility of evaluations of programs for the gifted with the intent of providing more specific guidelines for decision makes in the construction of evaluation designs, implementation of the evaluation process, and utilization of evaluation results. Includes "Guidelines for Evaluating Gifted Programs" .
Measuring What We Do in Schools
What is a true learning organization, and how can your school become one? To excel, schools must embrace continuous school improvement and evaluation, as well as systems thinking. In Measuring What We Do in Schools, author Victoria L. Bernhardt details the critical role program evaluation serves in school success and how to implement meaningful evaluations that make a difference. She provides a roadmap of how to conduct comprehensive, systemwide evaluations of programs and processes; the tools needed to obtain usable, pertinent information; and how to use these data to expand teachers' and administrators' data-informed decision-making focus. Educators will learn how to * Assess what is working and not working for students * Determine which processes need to change * Use data to improve practices on an ongoing basis Although challenging for many schools, program evaluation and data analysis can begin with a single program or process, over time building on the expanded knowledge of the school's processes and the results they produce. An effective tool—The Program Evaluation Tool—enables schools to easily identify the purpose and intended outcomes of any school program, along with whom it serves, and how it should be implemented, monitored, and evaluated. These data can then be used to improve every aspect of a school's programs and processes and the outcomes achieved. Filled with practical strategies and featuring an in-depth case study, this book is designed to help educators see that evaluation work is logical and easy to do. They'll gain the confidence to do this work on a regular basis—working together to become a true learning organization.