The program evaluation is the culminating assignment in this course. This assignment allows you to synthesize and apply your understanding of program evaluation to demonstrate your knowledge and skill to engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice and evaluate practice with organizations.
1. Introduction
a. Describe the problem/need to be addressed by the program
NOTE: You have answered/addressed this in your other two assignments. You are welcome to include the same information from those papers; please make sure to implement any suggestions provided.
b. Overview of problem/need
This assignment section provides the reader with a well-informed, well-researched discussion of the problem/need. In completing your Needs Assessment, you conducted a literature review; the literature review helped inform your understanding of the problem/need and develop relevant questions for your interview guide. You will draw on this literature and additional literature as needed to address the following areas :
Identify the factors that contribute to the problem/need.
Provide the reader with an understanding of the estimated numbers of people affected or impacted by the problem/need. Consider using national, state, and local data to provide context.
Discuss the specific population (demographic characteristics) and the geographic area on which you will focus.
c. Proposed program/strategy for addressing the problem/need
Synthesize the research/theoretical material in the form of a detailed program plan. What program are you proposing to address this problem/need? What empirical and/or theoretical literature supports your proposal?.
2. Evaluation Design Description
In narrative format, address the following:
Identify and describe the evaluation design and the rationale for your choice.
Describe what evaluation question(s) you are hoping to answer
Briefly define the type of evaluation you selected and why it is appropriate for the question you are asking. For example, if you want to know if your program works , you would propose to conduct an outcome evaluation.
3. Research Design for your evaluation
In narrative format, address the following:
What type of research design are you proposing (SSRD; GRD)
Describe the type of design (SSRD; GRD). Provide a clear explanation and rationale for the kind of design you selected. How will this design help you answer your research question? Make sure to address or describe the collection of any baseline and/or outcome data (in SSRD designs) and pretest and/or posttest data (in GRD designs).
Describe the rationale for your design selection and identify the strengths and limitations of your design. What can this design allow you to do? What does it not allow you to do?
Why was a more rigorous design not feasible or appropriate?
b. Evaluation Sample
Describe the type of sample you are selecting and why. In other words, who will be participating in your evaluation? (Refer to Chapter 8)]
What procedures will you use to recruit participants for your study? How will you ethically recruit your sample?
What steps could you take to ensure diversity and representation in your sample?
c. Data Collection/Measures
Describe what data you will be using for your evaluation. Are these primary or secondary data?
What is/are your outcome measures? (Refer to Chapters 11 and 12)
Provide a brief description of each measure selected. Describe why you selected this measurement tool.
Make sure to indicate whether you are using an existing measure or creating your own.
If using a standardized measure, report the reliability and validity. Indicate what kind of outcomes or constructs this measure is specifically trying to measure.
If creating your measure, describe what process you will go through to design your tool. Make sure you include a description of how you will validate the instrument and/or improve its usability and face validity.
d. Analysis Plan
Describe what steps you will take to analyze your data. What statistics might you use?
What statistics, conditions, or attributes (e.g., outcomes) do we expect to see change due to the planned activities? How will you know when this is accomplished? In other words, what changes would you hope to see?
e. Conclusion/Reflections
Identify the strengths and limitations of your evaluation plan.
Are there additional surveys or measures you could implement to help demonstrate program efficacy ?
Your final presentation will ask you to reflect on the implications of your evaluation. Include any tentative thoughts regarding what information you think would be important to distill from this evaluation.
Why do you think program evaluations are an important tool to use generally in human service organizations? Your organization specifically?
The maximum length for this paper is 10 pages. All aspects of the paper should conform to the 7th edition of the APA manual.
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