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Evaluating Evaluation

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This chapter dealt more specifically with how to plan and conduct the evaluation. There are certain things to consider before getting started. The basic first question many evaluators pose to themselves or to a team is how do I get started? How do I conduct an evaluation? How do I focus on the right thing? What needs to be evaluated? How do I plan the specifics for the evaluation? All these questions must be answered and discerned before getting started. The evaluator must first make some tough choices after reviewing and understanding the basic guidelines for conducting and using an evaluation as stated early in chapter 1. The tough choices include: what kind of sources will I use? What methods will I use to conduct the evaluation? …show more content…

The majority of evaluations use a Descriptive Design Model. A smaller percentage of evaluators use the next most common evaluation design is the Casual Design and Quasi-Experimental Design. The next process is the sampling issue. What type of sampling strategies should be used and is most appropriate for the specific purpose? Do we use a small group, everyone, a specific site and what is the cost-effective of the sample? Random sampling vs. Purposive sampling which uses cases studies and interview. Once this determined, the evaluator needs to decide cost choices. The two most common choices are cost-benefit analysis that is cost determined and benefits can be identified. The common mistake with this strategy is that sometimes the cheapest program gets selected. The other cost choice is the cost-effective. This consideration focuses on achieving an outcome. The problem with this is that sometimes it is difficult to determine the costs that are offset by the benefits. The next consideration is data sources. Who and how will the data be collected? What type of training and instructions is needed to collect the data? How will it be analyzed? Evaluated? Reported? Stored and

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