Week #2 Discussion: Types of Program Evaluation
There are many types of policy and program evaluations. There are variations in terminology, but the major types of evaluation typically involve the following: a) determining the need and requirement for a program; b) assessing whether a program is working the way it is supposed to work; and c) the impact of the program on the larger environment, both short and long term. For this Discussion, review this week’s Learning Resources and select a case involving physical infrastructure or economic development.
Discuss a brief descriiption of the project and explain the type of evaluation employed in the case. Explain whether this was a needs assessment, formative, process, or summative (impact) evaluation and why. Describe the type of data used and whether comparisons were employed.
Resources:
https://www.alnap.org/system/files/content/resource/files/main/condensed-summary-overview-of-realworld-evaluation-2nd-edition.pdf
http://www.pointk.org/resources/files/evaluability.pdf
https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/fact-sheet-the-second-chance-act/
https://csgjusticecenter.org/2013/10/16/mentoring-gang-involved-youth-how-roca-inc-combines-mentoring-and-services-in-a-high-risk-intervention-model/
https://www.janetwall.net/attachments/File/9_Step_Evaluation_Model_Paper.pdf
Langbein, L. (2012). Public program evaluation: A statistical guide (2nd ed.). Armonk, NY: ME Sharpe.
• Chapter 1, “What This Book Is About” (pp. 3–20)
McDavid, J. C., Huse, I., & Hawthorn, L. R. L. (2019). Program evaluation and performance measurement: An introduction to practice (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Chapter 1, “Key Concepts and Issues in Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement” (pp. 2-43)
• Chapter 6, “Needs Assessments for Program Development and Adjustment” (pp. 248-293)