Evaluation Is The Systematic Application Of Scientific Mediums?

Evaluation is a process that is used to look at the project, policy or program critically. It includes the collection and analyzing information that is related to the program or policy and that of its outcome. The Main purpose is to improve the policy or the program effectiveness. This will also help to identify any of the weak areas and changes that need to be made in the policy.

The outcome evaluation process consists of a six stage model. The first stage is to build agency commitment and to clarify expectations. The second stage is to build agency capacity to measure the outcomes. The third stage is to identify the outcomes, indicators, and data collection methods. The fourth stage is to collect and analyze the outcome data. The fifth stage consists of improving the outcome measurement system. The sixth and final stage consists of using and communicating the outcome information.

Process evaluation is used to determine if the program activities have been implemented as intended. Outcome evaluation is used to measure effects of a program in the target population by estimating the progress in the outcome objectives that the program is to achieve (CDC, n.d.).

A program evaluation offers a way to determine if adjustments are needed to improve upon the project in order for it to remain successful. Furthermore, the project evaluation team will analyze and measure each component of the outcome, input, and process in order to clarify the program’s objectives and goals. Thus creating a framework of evaluation methods and questions in addition to setting up a timeline for the evaluation activities will assist in the evaluation (CDC, 2011; HRSA, n.d.; McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). The goal of outcome measures is to describe the overall performance of the process; therefore, outcome measurement will determine the program cost-effectiveness, attribution, and efficiency (CDC, 2012; HRSA, n.d.; McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). There will be additional evaluation concerning the input measures, which are the resources that were put into the process. Lastly, the appraisal of process measures will provide data regarding the performance each course of action involved in the implantation of the project (HRSA, n.d.). After a thorough evaluation of the project, recommendations and the dissemination of results will be prepared and

The main objective of implementing the evaluation tool is to ensure progress and performance of the evidenced based change projects. Various types of the evaluation tools are

“Outcomes evaluation is often described first by looking at its basic components. Outcomes evaluation looks at programs as systems that have inputs, activities/processes, outputs and outcomes -- this system's view is useful in examining any program!

Evaluation is 1) Establish target objectives to measure outcomes. 2) Communicate to staff members the measures for successful results. 3) Organize the collection and evaluating of the effect. 4) Continually communicate with staff members during the evaluation processes. 5) Review plan and adjust if need.

The evaluation that I reviewed related to my own evaluation because it Invest heavily in planning. In was clear that they had invested both time and effort in deciding what they want to learn from their evaluation. Also, based on the information provided they discussed what they plan to do with their findings. The Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation (2010) state “for evaluation information to be useful, it must be analyzed and interpreted.” (p. 3). This week’s reading assignment supported me to successfully analyze the data gathered concerning the program I selected. Also, it provided some basic information about different procedures for analyzing evaluation data to help me comprehend and participate more fully in this procedure. For instance, I learned that I can “analyze information about attainment of program implementation using a descriptive process” that describes what was completed or plan to complete (OPRE, 2010, p.

Purpose of the evaluation: What aspect of the program would you assess? How does this complement the larger group evaluation? (5 points)

The plan states goals and sets multiple performance objectives according to that goal. The goals are divided in to sections that coincide with departments. Within each department, the evaluation is based on related sections of the strategic plan. The program evaluations use various forms of measurement, comparing them to the target figure that meets the objective. “Activities” based performance measures are primarily in the General Government departments while the Community Development and Public Safety departments base their evaluations on outcomes.

Another model of evaluation based on the personal observations makes the use of intensive personal observations and conversations with the stakeholders would be the proponents of “qualitative or naturalistic” argues that only a deep and thorough understanding of a program will permit the most helpful with the evaluation. Offering the “expert opinion model” where the evaluator must be the data-gathering instrument; yet, a greater emphasis is placed on the understanding the experiences to such issues.

H. Stanley Judd once quoted, “A good plan is like a road map: it shows the destination and usually the best way to get there.” Since evaluation is judge on the uses of its findings it is important to know where to start and where to end. The goal is to help the readers understand how evaluation is judge, how to utilize the findings and the lasting impact on those who were part of the evaluation.

Lastly, evaluation is an important part of developing a behavior modification program. The effectiveness of the program cannot be determined without evaluating the behavior and conducting an assessment about the changes that took place. This can be done by collecting data, graphing the results, and making conclusions in order to see if there is a need to modify the chosen intervention (Kuhlenschmidt, n.d.). Without careful evaluation, it will be impossible to determine whether the program causes the desired behavioral change.

Program performance evaluation and measurement is paramount to assure that efforts and resources that provided are resulting the desired outcomes. There are two main reasons why evaluating and measuring the program are important:

Setting the appropriate evaluation goals is a helpful process that needs to be established before the evaluation plan takes place. This will allow the evaluators to stay focused on what is to be accomplished from the evaluation. The result of a well-orchestrated evaluation plan creates an enhanced learning experience for the stakeholders. The goals set for this evaluation plan are to increase knowledge, create positive attitudes, and change behaviors.