"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."
Similar to research methods, but focused on identifying, measuring, and assessing the effectiveness of social programs and interventions.
Sampling: :.
Data analysis: :.
Program fidelity: :.
Logic Model: :.
Theory of Change: :.
Formative Evaluation: This type of evaluation is conducted during the implementation phase of a program to monitor its progress, identify potential problems, and guide adjustments to improve its effectiveness.
Summative Evaluation: Summative evaluation is conducted at the end of a program or project to assess its overall impact, success and outcomes.
Process Evaluation: Process evaluation is used to understand how a program is being implemented and to identify whether it has been implemented as intended.
Outcome Evaluation: Outcome evaluation assesses whether a program or intervention achieved its intended outcomes and goals.
Impact Evaluation: Impact evaluation is used to determine the overall impact of a program or intervention on the target population.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: This type of analysis is used to determine whether the benefits of a program or intervention outweigh the costs.
Needs Assessment: A needs assessment is conducted to determine the needs of a specific population or community and identify potential areas for intervention.
Participatory Evaluation: Participatory evaluation involves the active involvement of program participants and stakeholders in the evaluation process.
Sustainability Evaluation: Sustainability evaluation is used to assess the long-term viability and impact of a program or intervention.
Quasi-Experimental Design: This type of design is used to evaluate the effects of an intervention by comparing outcomes for a treatment group and a control group.
Experimental Design: Experimental design involves randomly assigning participants to a treatment or control condition to assess the impact of the intervention.
Case Studies: A case study examines a specific program, intervention or individual in-depth to identify strengths and weaknesses.
Document Analysis: Document analysis involves the review of program documents, reports and evaluations to assess program effectiveness.
Focus Groups: Focus groups are used to gather qualitative data from participants about their experiences with a program or intervention.
Surveys: Surveys are used to collect quantitative data from a large number of participants about their experiences with a program or intervention.
Interviews: Interviews are used to collect qualitative data from participants about their experiences with a program or intervention.
Observations: Observations are used to gather data about participant behavior and interaction with a program or intervention.
"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."