The purpose and process of program evaluation

Qualitative Research Evaluation Methods. Thomson, G. Measuring the success of EE programs. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Skip to main content. Evaluation: What is it and why do it? Table of Contents What is evaluation? Should I evaluate my program? What type of evaluation should I conduct and when? What makes a good evaluation? How do I make evaluation an integral part of my program? How can I learn more? What is evaluation? Experts stress that evaluation can: Improve program design and implementation.

Demonstrate program impact. Within the categories of formative and summative, there are different types of evaluation. Which of these evaluations is most appropriate depends on the stage of your program: Type of Evaluation Purpose Formative 1. Needs Assessment Determines who needs the program, how great the need is, and what can be done to best meet the need.

For more information, Needs Assessment Training uses a practical training module to lead you through a series of interactive pages about needs assessment. Process or Implementation Evaluation Examines the process of implementing the program and determines whether the program is operating as planned.

Can be done continuously or as a one-time assessment. Results are used to improve the program. Summative 1. Outcome Evaluation Investigates to what extent the program is achieving its outcomes.

These outcomes are the short-term and medium-term changes in program participants that result directly from the program. Impact Evaluation Determines any broader, longer-term changes that have occurred as a result of the program. These impacts are the net effects, typically on the entire school, community, organization, society, or environment.

EE impact evaluations may focus on the educational, environmental quality, or human health impacts of EE programs. Before Program Begins.

These summative evaluations build on data collected in the earlier stages. To what extent is the need being met? What can be done to address this need? You can also use outside consultants as volunteers, advisory panel members, or contractors. External consultants can provide high levels of evaluation expertise from an objective point of view. Important factors to consider when selecting consultants are their level of professional training, experience, and ability to meet your needs.

Be sure to check all references carefully before you enter into a contract with any consultant. To generate discussion around evaluation planning and implementation, several states have formed evaluation advisory panels. Advisory panels typically generate input from local, regional, or national experts otherwise difficult to access. Such an advisory panel will lend credibility to your efforts and prove useful in cultivating widespread support for evaluation activities.

Evaluation team members should clearly define their respective roles. Informal consensus may be enough; others prefer a written agreement that describes who will conduct the evaluation and assigns specific roles and responsibilities to individual team members. Either way, the team must clarify and reach consensus on the:. This manual is organized by the six steps of the CDC Framework. Each chapter will introduce the key questions to be answered in that step, approaches to answering those questions, and how the four evaluation standards might influence your approach.

The main points are illustrated with one or more public health examples that are composites inspired by actual work being done by CDC and states and localities. Together, they build a house over a multi-week period. At the end of the construction period, the home is sold to the family using a no-interest loan. Lead poisoning is the most widespread environmental hazard facing young children, especially in older inner-city areas.

Even at low levels, elevated blood lead levels EBLL have been associated with reduced intelligence, medical problems, and developmental problems. The main sources of lead poisoning in children are paint and dust in older homes with lead-based paint. Public health programs address the problem through a combination of primary and secondary prevention efforts. A typical secondary prevention program at the local level does outreach and screening of high-risk children, identifying those with EBLL, assessing their environments for sources of lead, and case managing both their medical treatment and environmental corrections.

However, these programs must rely on others to accomplish the actual medical treatment and the reduction of lead in the home environment. A common initiative of state immunization programs is comprehensive provider education programs to train and motivate private providers to provide more immunizations.

A typical program includes a newsletter distributed three times per year to update private providers on new developments and changes in policy, and provide a brief education on various immunization topics; immunization trainings held around the state conducted by teams of state program staff and physician educators on general immunization topics and the immunization registry; a Provider Tool Kit on how to increase immunization rates in their practice; training of nursing staff in local health departments who then conduct immunization presentations in individual private provider clinics; and presentations on immunization topics by physician peer educators at physician grand rounds and state conferences.

Minimalist theory of evaluation: The least theory that practice requires. American Journal of Evaluation ; Utilization-focused evaluation: The new century text.

Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, Study of participatory research in health promotion: Review and recommendations for the development of participatory research in health promotion in Canada. Ottawa, Canada : Royal Society of Canada , Health promotion evaluation: Recommendations to policy-makers: Report of the WHO European working group on health promotion evaluation. Public health in America.

Fall January 1, Ten organizational practices of public health: A historical perspective. American Journal of Preventive Medicine ;11 6 Suppl The program evaluation standards: How to assess evaluations of educational programs. The PRC program is a national network of 24 academic research centers committed to prevention research and the ability to translate that research into programs and policies.

The centers work with state health departments and members of their communities to develop and evaluate state and local interventions that address the leading causes of death and disability in the nation. Additional information on the PRCs is available at www.

While inspired by real CDC and community programs, they are not intended to reflect the current. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Browse essays. Place order. About Us. Contact Us. Terms Of Service. Homework help. Home Place order Browse essays. Analyze discussing the purpose and process of program evaluation In this paper, you will analyze discussing the purpose and process of program evaluation.