Program Evaluation in Public Administration

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The process of assessing the success of a public policy or program.

Understanding Program Evaluation: Introduction to the concept and purpose of program evaluation in public administration. Covers the types of evaluations and steps involved in the evaluation process.
Research Design: Explains the different research designs used in program evaluation, such as experimental and non-experimental designs, and how they can be applied to program evaluation in public administration.
Data Collection Methods: Overview of different data collection methods used in program evaluation, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and secondary data. Covers the strengths and weaknesses of each method and how to choose the appropriate method for the evaluation.
Data Analysis: Explains how to analyze data collected in program evaluation, including quantitative and qualitative analysis methods, and how to interpret and present results.
Program Logic Models: Introduction to program logic models, which are used to map out the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts of a program. Explains how to use logic models in program evaluation.
Performance Measurement: Discusses the importance of performance measurement in program evaluation, and explains how to develop indicators and use them to measure program performance.
Utilization-Focused Evaluation: Describes the utilization-focused approach to program evaluation, which emphasizes the use of evaluation results by stakeholders to improve program outcomes. Covers the steps involved in a utilization-focused evaluation.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Explains how to conduct a cost-benefit analysis in program evaluation, which involves comparing the costs and benefits of a program to determine if it is cost-effective. Covers the different approaches to cost-benefit analysis and their limitations.
Policy Analysis: Covers the role of policy analysis in program evaluation, including how to assess the impact of a policy on a program, and how to use program evaluation to inform policy decisions.
Ethics in Program Evaluation: Discusses ethical considerations in program evaluation, including confidentiality, informed consent, and conflicts of interest. Explains how to ensure that program evaluation is conducted ethically.
"Program evaluation is a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using information to answer questions about projects, policies and programs, particularly about their effectiveness and efficiency."
"To some degree, program evaluation falls under traditional cost–benefit analysis, concerning fair returns on the outlay of economic and other assets; however, social outcomes can be more complex to assess than market outcomes, and a different skillset is required."
"Considerations include how much the program costs per participant, program impact, how the program could be improved, whether there are better alternatives, if there are unforeseen consequences, and whether the program goals are appropriate and useful."
"Best practice is for the evaluation to be a joint project between evaluators and stakeholders."
"A wide range of different titles are applied to program evaluators... Program Analysts, Program Assistants, Program Clerks (United Kingdom), Program Support Specialists, or Program Associates, Program Coordinators."
"Evaluation became particularly relevant in the U.S. in the 1960s during the period of the Great Society social programs associated with the Kennedy and Johnson administrations."
"Extraordinary sums were invested in social programs, but the impacts of these investments were largely unknown."
"People who do program evaluation come from many different backgrounds, such as sociology, psychology, economics, social work, as well as political science subfields such as public policy and public administration."
"Some universities also have specific training programs, especially at the postgraduate level in program evaluation, for those who studied an undergraduate subject area lacking in program evaluation skills."
"Program evaluations can involve both quantitative and qualitative methods of social research."
"Stakeholders might be required to assess—under law or charter—or want to know whether the programs they are funding, implementing, voting for, receiving or opposing are producing the promised effect."
"Evaluators help to answer these questions."
"The process of evaluation is considered to be a relatively recent phenomenon. However, planned social evaluation has been documented as dating as far back as 2200 BC."
"...to answer questions about projects, policies and programs, particularly about their effectiveness and efficiency."
"Social outcomes can be more complex to assess than market outcomes, and a different skillset is required."
"...how the program could be improved, whether there are better alternatives..."
"Considerations include how much the program costs per participant... concerning fair returns on the outlay of economic and other assets."
"If there are unforeseen consequences..."
"Best practice is for the evaluation to be a joint project between evaluators and stakeholders."
"...whether the program goals are appropriate and useful."