It is important for program managers and decision makers to know if their program is accomplishing its founding purpose. To provide that insight and aid in decisions about a current or proposed course of action, a program evaluation can be a very critical tool to determine how well a program is working and what impact it is having on the problem it is attempting to address. With that said, how are intended users and beneficiaries of an evaluation supposed to know if the evaluation they have been given is a good product, with enough substance to guide them in making critical decisions that will affect the livelihood of program workers, the wellbeing of program participants, and influence the use of the limited resources available to address …show more content…
However, an evaluation must also provide a reason to take action and that can be divisive. An evaluation that does not provide a significant reason to act is not likely to have value to the stakeholders. In an environment where high levels of polarization exists, stakeholders become more likely to invest significant amounts of resources to have their point of view heard (Contandriopoulos & Brousselle, 2012). The evaluator should not be partisan, or attempt to fuel discord. Though, they should provide information and motivation to those who seek to improve society. Evaluators may choose to seek out those who have power to affect change. “Evaluations that are strongly connected to power structures are more likely to have an effect because they already have champions who have a stake in using evaluations to change practices” (Saunders, 2012, Pg. 429). When change is necessary, recommendations of small, incremental changes are usually more reasonable and easier for communities or program participants to accept than drastic sweeping changes. Unless there is a polarizing force driving a change, evaluations that recommend changes that build upon existing practices have a greater chance to be accepted and maximize the use of the evaluation report ” (Saunders, …show more content…
The effectiveness of the program and the usefulness of the evaluation can only be realized if the potential users are shown that the costs and benefits of changing a lifestyle or other practices are preferable to the way things were before the program was offered or new knowledge provided by the evaluation made available (Saunders, 2012). Evaluators must provide answers to those who commissioned their study to show the value and impact the program is having or what need remains. It is important to acknowledge that good programs can fail if program participants or the community as a whole fail to see the value in services that are provided and reject the operation. Evaluators have an opportunity to provide information about why the program is important to the wellbeing of a segment of the population and how that will in turn effect society in
First, would look at my measurement method to make sure that it is reliable and valid. Making sure that the measurements are representing the people and the program accurately, enough sample size is use to represent the program, and make sure there is no participants contamination. Second, the time from when the program started and when the evaluation process starts can also show that the program have no impact. It takes a long time for programs to work out the kink and bumps along the way and sometimes having an evaluation conducted within a year will not show the program at its full potential. There is also the sleeper effect where the program will not show impact until a much later time. Having an open and clear communication with the stakeholders will let me know what they are looking in the program evaluation so that I can focus on those aspects to make sure I use accurate
Some technical and political aspects of the program planning and evaluation I might encounter in the program scenario I chose, may be trying to reach out to those individuals that are or have been involved with the criminal justice system. Funding may not allow for these services to be provided to these individuals. Another aspect may be that the community is not aware of this program and the services that it provides. Grants could be another issue. If the program cannot show its effectiveness then grants may not be given and this could results in loss of services provided. A political aspect could be that one “favoritism” over evaluations. Some may use their political influence to “guide” the evaluation to present or not present the “selected” truth. (Yuen, 2003) There are many pressures from the individual who performs the evaluation to make it look; “good” This is a big political concern for programs.
Engage current and past participants in surveys and process evaluations to assess program’s efficacy and
In order to implement a program evaluation to determine client gains, there will be a team consisting of myself as the lead consultant, 3-4 program evaluation support staff members who will assist in the evaluation process and one staff member from the center being included to provide relevant center information. Key staff from the center will be asked to form an advisory group where all evaluation measures, outcomes and processes will be discussed, approved and presented.
Taut, S. (2008). What Have We Learned About Stakeholder Involvement in Program Evaluation. Studies in Educational Evaluation , 224 - 230.
It is important to observe that policymaking is very important in program evaluations. Trust is essential in the government issues. Evaluations consist in the discussion of the programs, thus, participants have the opportunity disburse their concerns and discuss their differences. They agree with the evaluation modules and standards. Trust makes contributors feel more confident regarding their conflict of interests. Trust is built by involving all interested members in the process of evaluation (IPDET, 2007).
Evaluation have its pros and cons depending on the type of evaluation. A beneficial evaluation is the overall success of the type of service that is being rendered. Depending on the resources that is offered and rather or not the staff is effective in achieving their goals with the client. Basically, a chain of cause and effect is the mission of human services agencies. The evaluation will determine rather the agencies is having an impact on the services that are provided, and what difference it has made on the person. The purpose is the primary target of what the agencies are initiated in their mission. If the outcome is measured in conducting an evaluation in the agencies, the management should elaborate on the services, networking capacity, budget, and practice skills of the workers when dealing with clients. Human services workers could have a clearer picture of the purpose of the organization, and helpful tips on dealing with clients. Many questions and answers should be in the evaluation session with the workers, especially about satisfaction with reaching their goals with the organization. This type of evaluation is the pro to the workers and the administration could get a better handle on what to take out of the program or what to add, no one is in the hot
Within a program evaluation, there are four main phases, such as the survey phase, the planning phase, the fieldwork phase, and the final phase (Capella University, 2017). In regards to disseminating results, the final phase of program evaluation is when the data that was collected is then analyzed. The evaluators take the time to develop the findings through research, draw conclusions from the data, and finally make the best recommendations for the program that are based on the findings (Capella University, 2017). Depending on the type of program evaluation being conducted, the evaluators may be managers or staff that works within the program. For instance, formative evaluations are completed internally by the managers, so that they can assess their program and make improvements moving forward. The results are used within the program evaluation to measure accountability and develop new strategies needed to meet the outcomes and objective of
Program Evaluation There are many different types of evaluations and reasons to conduct program evaluations. For example, cost/benefit analysis, assessment needs, effectiveness, and outcomes. Program evaluations is a complex but an integral component of a nursing program. Also, program evaluations is an ongoing process of collecting and describing data which provides the basis for decision making. Specifically, evaluation data can be used to prepare for accreditation visits, develop faculty and staff, examine the planned and actual
To help program directors meet these challenges, the Administration on Children, Youth and Families developed a series of evaluations that explain program evaluation-where the teacher evaluates each child that enters into the Head Start. Good program evaluations help to improve program operations, measure program performance and effects and document important lessons for other programs. With this information, program managers are better able to direct limited resources to where they are most needed and most effective.
Ultimately, impact evaluations of SBM programs, or any other kind of program, are important because they can demonstrate whether or not the program has accomplished its objectives. Furthermore, these evaluations can identify ways to improve the design of the program. For example, they can establish whether the population that is benefiting from the program is the intended target population. These evaluations can also make successful reforms politically sustainable and can create a consensus on a plan for reforming an unsuccessful program. The recent evidence from impact evaluations of SBM programs is
Program evaluation is important because it identifies a program strengths and weaknesses in order to improve that program. The purpose of a program evaluation is collects information about a program or aspects about to make a decision. Most program evaluation that have been take were to improve programs and what an individual can learn from it. It often helps management answer questions such as what is their goals for their program, and how can they meet their goals.
The rationale of this evaluation is to confirm that the goals of the program are being meet. That the children are being educated in making healthy choices and participating in the program. In order for the evaluation to be accurate research needs to determine if the program will be effective.
The purpose of the evaluation is to make sure that our program as a whole is on the track to success. We want to evaluate our current problems as well as future problems we may have and see if we can solve them now rather than later. We want to make sure that our entire program is on a steady path and that we will not be blindsided by any issues that may arise. Our program rationale is a key component to developing our program as we want our goals and objectives to be clear as well as how we will identify the needs of the community that need to be met.
The validity and credibility of this finding to answer the research question on program readiness for evaluation is uncertain. This is primarily due to the limitations in obtaining the data used for those evaluations, and the findings. However, being that this is a tool used by the funders as a checkmark on the program, and the program has continued to be funded, I can only use clear reasoning and judgement to decide that the program is ready to be evaluated. In addition, the program seems to have a design which they abide by. The data analysis show that the program has a well-defined structure, no part of the process needs to be modified.