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Program Evaluation
Embedding Evaluation into Program Design and Development



April 2020 | 432 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

Program Evaluation: Embedding Evaluation into Program Design and Development provides an in-depth examination of the foundations, methods, and relevant issues in the field of evaluation. With an emphasis on an embedded approach, where evaluation is an explicit part of a program that leads to the refinement of the program, students will learn how to conduct effective evaluations that foster continual improvement and enable data-based decision making. This text provides students with both the theoretical understanding and the practical tools to conduct effective evaluations while being rigorous enough for experienced evaluators looking to expand their approach to evaluation. 

An Instructor website to accompany this book is available at: study.sagepub.com/giancola1e

 
Acknowledgments
 
Preface
 
About the Author
 
SECTION I • INTRODUCTION
 
Chapter 1 • Evaluation Matters
1.1 What Is Evaluation?

 
1.2 Why Evaluate?

 
1.3 Values and Standards in Evaluation

 
1.4 Types of Evaluation

 
1.5 Internal and External Evaluation

 
1.6 Embedding Evaluation Into Programs

 
1.7 Textbook Organization

 
1.8 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
Chapter 2 • History of Evaluation
2.1 The Evolution of Evaluation

 
2.2 The History of Ethics in Research and Evaluation

 
2.3 Current Issues in Evaluation

 
2.4 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
Chapter 3 • Evaluation Ethics
3.1 Ethics Defined

 
3.2 Research Ethics Guidelines and Legislation

 
3.3 IRB Protocols and Amendments

 
3.4 Ethical Responsibilities of Organizations

 
3.5 Ethical Responsibilities of Evaluators

 
3.6 Additional Considerations

 
3.7 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
Chapter 4 • Evaluation Ideologies and Approaches
4.1 Inquiry and Ideology

 
4.2 Evaluation Ideology

 
4.3 Evaluation Design

 
4.4 Evaluation Approach

 
4.5 Embedded Evaluation

 
4.6 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
SECTION II • EMBEDDED EVALUATION: DESIGN
 
Chapter 5 • DEFINE, Part 1: Understanding the Program
5.1 Embedded Evaluation

 
5.2 Understanding the Program

 
5.3 Delineating Goals and Strategies

 
5.4 Explaining the Program Theory

 
5.5 Determining Contextual Conditions

 
5.6 Program Theory and Other Theories

 
5.7 Considering Alternative Theories

 
5.8 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
Chapter 6 • DEFINE, Part 2: Modeling the Program
6.1 Chapter in Context

 
6.2 What Is a Logic Model?

 
6.3 Creating the Logic Model

 
6.4 Using the Program’s Logic Model

 
6.5 More on Logic Models

 
6.6 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
Chapter 7 • PLAN, Part 1: Planning the Evaluation
7.1 Creating Evaluation Questions

 
7.2 Embedding Evaluation Questions Into Your Logic Model

 
7.3 What Data Should I Collect?

 
7.4 Creating the Evaluation Matrix

 
7.5 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
Chapter 8 • PLAN, Part 2: Designing the Evaluation
8.1 Evaluation Design

 
8.2 Evaluation Methods and Tools

 
8.3 Evaluation Matrix: Identifying Data Sources

 
8.4 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
SECTION III • EMBEDDED EVALUATION: IMPLEMENTATION
 
Chapter 9 • IMPLEMENT, Part 1: Implementing the Evaluation
9.1 Chapter in Context

 
9.2 Informed Consent

 
9.3 Collecting the Data

 
9.4 Organizing Quantitative Data

 
9.5 Organizing Qualitative Data

 
9.6 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
Chapter 10 • IMPLEMENT, Part 2: Analyzing the Data
10.1 Chapter in Context

 
10.2 Quantitative Data Analysis: Descriptive Statistics

 
10.3 Quantitative Data Analysis: Inferential Statistics

 
10.4 Qualitative Data Analysis

 
10.5 Managing the Unexpected and Unintended

 
10.6 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
Chapter 11 • INTERPRET: Interpreting the Results
11.1 The Home Stretch

 
11.2 Examining Results

 
11.3 Interpreting Results

 
11.4 Communicating Evaluation Results

 
11.5 Enhancing Reporting and Communication

 
11.6 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
Chapter 12 • INFORM and REFINE: Using Evaluation Results
12.1 Purpose of Evaluation

 
12.2 Pre-Evaluation: Efforts to Promote Utilization

 
12.3 During Evaluation: Ongoing Utilization Efforts

 
12.4 Post-Evaluation and Data Dissemination

 
12.5 Chapter Summary

 
Reflection and Application

 
 
SECTION IV • RESOURCES
 
Chapter 13 • Case Study Applications
13.1 LEND Evaluation

 
13.2 ACCEL Evaluation

 
13.3 YAP Evaluation

 
 
Appendices: Special Topics
 
Appendix A: Needs Assessment
 
Appendix B: Politics and Policy
 
Appendix C: Developmental Evaluation
 
Appendix D: Translational Research Evaluation
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

Supplements

Instructor Teaching Site
study.sagepub.com/giancola1e

Password-protected Instructor Resources include the following:
  • Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course. 
  • Lecture Notes, including Outline and Objectives, which may be used for lecture and/or student handouts.
  • A Sample Syllabus provides a suggested course model for using the book.
  • Assignments and a semester-long course project are available for download, along with grading rubrics.
  • Full-text case studies and journal articles are accompanied by critical thinking/discussion questions.  
  • Tables and figures from the printed book are available in an easily-downloadable format for use in papers, hand-outs, and presentations.
 

“This book is a must for anyone who has looked across a lectern at a sea of panicked expressions on the first day of a program evaluation class. Program Evaluation will calm everyone's nerves and create a bit of excitement at the prospect of learning how to evaluate programs and activities.”

Terry Anderson
Troy University

“An excellent addition to books on program evaluation. This book's practicality and focus on techniques of embedding evaluations in program design and development is invaluable. Multiple audiences including graduate students, researchers, practitioners and policy makers would find the text useful.”

Margaret Lombe
Boston College

“This is a great book that provides the details you need to teach and study program evaluation. The author has tremendous skill and ability to present the materials in and interesting and understandable fashion.”

Michael J. Scicchitano
University of Florida

“This text would be a great addition to a research methods course providing the history as well as the various types of program evaluations for the appropriate type of programs.”

Bret D. Cormier
Southeast Missouri State University

“This unique book relates contemporary realities of program evaluation with a particular focus on 'how to' with relevant real-world examples. This well-conceptualized and well-written piece provides much needed insights on the rudiments of evaluation from the very beginning to the end and serves as invaluable resource to faculty, students, policy makers and key administrators across various levels of government/public affairs. The author candidly narrates the benefits and challenges of evaluation in ways that everyone involved in any form of evaluation at any level can relate to. The book's uniqueness makes it a key addition to the existing literature on evaluation in theory, policy, and praxis terms.”

James Agbodzakey
University of North Texas at Dallas

“This book serves as an excellent 'How to Manual' for conducting program evaluations. The presentation is both interesting and concise.”

Sandra Schrouder
Barry University

Departmental decision.

Dr Terry Gromala
School Of Business, Argosy University-Twin Cities
October 1, 2020

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