Introduction to Program Evaluation

Definition of Program Evaluation

• Program Evaluation: Use of social research procedures to systematically investigate the effectiveness of programs.
• Connection to Research: Closely linked to research but involves making value judgments about programs.

Key Components of Program Evaluation

• Needs Assessments: Determines if there is a need for a program or service.
• Design Evaluation: Evaluates the design of a program or service.
• Process Evaluation: Also known as formative or implementation evaluation, examines the rollout of a program.
• Outcome Evaluation: Also called summative evaluation, assesses if the program met its intended outcomes.
• Impact Evaluation: Looks at long-term, deeper outcomes and the attribution of those outcomes.
• Efficiency Evaluation: Evaluates the efficiency of a program or service.

Detailed Evaluation Types

Process Evaluation

• Focus: Examines how a program is being rolled out.
• Questions to Consider:
  • Are all sessions delivered as written and in the recommended time sequence?
  • Are external factors affecting the program delivery?
  • Are program deliverers trained well enough?
• Purpose: Identifies issues hindering the rollout.

Outcome Evaluation

• Purpose: Determines if the program met its intended outcomes.
• Example: For a program designed to increase social skills, assesses if social skills improved among participants.

Impact Evaluation

• Comparison with Outcome Evaluation:
  • Looks at long-term and deeper outcomes.
  • Tries to attribute outcomes to the program and other external factors.
• Considerations:
  • Factors in environmental changes such as policy or other programs.
  • Evaluates influence on both favorable and unfavorable outcomes.

Closing Remarks

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