"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."
The methods for assessing program effectiveness and measuring policy success.
Program evaluation: This topic covers the process of assessing the performance and effectiveness of a program. It includes determining the objectives of the program, designing an evaluation plan, collecting data, and analyzing the results.
Performance measurement: This topic focuses on tracking and measuring the performance of a program using various metrics and indicators. It involves identifying the goals and objectives of the program, selecting appropriate measures, collecting data, and analyzing and interpreting the results.
Logic models: This topic explores the use of logic models as a tool for program evaluation and performance measurement. It involves understanding the relationships between program inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts.
Stakeholder engagement: This topic covers the importance of involving stakeholders in program evaluation and performance measurement. It involves identifying and engaging with key stakeholders, considering their perspectives and feedback, and incorporating their input into the evaluation process.
Data collection methods: This topic focuses on various methods for collecting data for program evaluation and performance measurement. It includes qualitative and quantitative methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observation.
Data analysis methods: This topic covers different methods for analyzing and interpreting data gathered during program evaluation and performance measurement. It includes statistical analysis, content analysis, and other qualitative analysis techniques.
Reporting and dissemination: This topic explores how to effectively communicate the results of program evaluation and performance measurement to different audiences. It involves developing reports and presentations that are clear, concise, and actionable.
Quality assurance: This topic covers the importance of ensuring the reliability and validity of data and results. It includes establishing standards for data collection and analysis, conducting quality control checks, and verifying findings.
Continuous improvement: This topic focuses on the concept of continuous improvement in program evaluation and performance measurement. It involves using evaluation results to make informed decisions and implement changes that improve program performance and outcomes.
Ethical considerations: This topic covers ethical issues and challenges that can arise during program evaluation and performance measurement. It involves identifying potential conflicts of interest, protecting participant privacy and confidentiality, and ensuring data integrity.
Impact Evaluation: It determines the effectiveness of a program on the targeted population or community.
Process Evaluation: It assesses how well a program is being implemented, and identifies ways to optimize program implementation.
Cost-benefit Analysis: It evaluates the costs and the benefits of a particular policy or program.
Formative Evaluation: It assesses the implementation process of a program during the early stages of implementation.
Summative Evaluation: It assesses the overall effectiveness of a program at the end of the implementation process.
Outcome Evaluation: It examines the outcomes or results produced by a program.
Performance Measurement: It measures the efficiency and effectiveness of a program using different metrics.
Goal-Based Evaluation: It assesses the extent to which the program achieves its goals and objectives.
Quality Improvement: It is a continuous process that involves monitoring and enhancing the quality of the program.
Developmental Evaluation: It is used to evaluate innovative programs that are still being developed.
Participatory Evaluation: It is an evaluation process that involves the participation of stakeholders in the evaluation process.
Real-time Evaluation: It involves using real-time feedback to monitor programs as they are being implemented.
Ex-post Evaluation: It is used to evaluate programs that have already been implemented.
Process Tracing: It is used to trace the causal mechanisms of a program to understand how it produces outcomes.
Randomized Controlled Trials: It is a method that involves randomly assigning individuals to either receive or not receive the program and then measuring the outcomes.
"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."