Download or read book Theory Driven Evaluations written by Huey T. Chen and published by SAGE Publications. This book was released on 1990-01-01 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the publication of Theory-Driven Evaluations, Huey-Tsyh Chen has given us an ambitious volume. . . . Indeed, it is the aspiration of this book to provide a conceptual framework that integrates the diverse approaches and paradigms of evaluation. For those of us accustomed to the rhetoric of the paradigm wars that have been raging in recent years, it is refreshing to find a text that works so assiduously at reconciliation. . . . There is much that is useful in Chen′s analysis. He gives us a full and thoughtful book that attempts no less than the construction of a conceptual framework for all of program evaluation. . . . It provides an impressive compendium of source material and references spanning not only evaluation, but related work in economics and public policy (this alone is worth the price of the book). . . . Chen′s Theory-Driven Evaluations provides a stimulating, even heroic attempt to bring some conceptual integration to a field that has been too long dominated by methodological paradigms and procedural particulars. --a prepublication review for Evaluation and Program Planning "Generous use of examples which are well selected and lucidly summarized." --Contemporary Sociology "Chen introduces a new, comprehensive framework for program evaluation that is designed to bridge the gap between method and theory-oriented perspectives. . . . For program planners, decision makers, scholars, and students, this volume clarifies, illuminates and provides unique insights into the conception, construction and implementation of a wide range of programs. . . . The research examples used in the discussion draw upon various areas, such as education, welfare, health, criminal justice, job training [and] family construction to attract a wider audience." --Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling Program evaluation has traditionally emphasized the application of social science research methods in evaluation activities. However, there is a growing awareness that program theory is vital for broadening the scope and enhancing the usefulness of program evaluation. In Theory-Driven Evaluations, Huey-Tsyh Chen introduces a new, comprehensive framework for program evaluation that is designed to bridge the gap between the method- and theory-oriented perspectives. He provides an intensive discussion of the nature and functions of program theory, approaches to constructing program theories, and the integration of program theory with evaluation processes. Specific types of theory-driven evaluations, as well as principles and guidelines for application are developed for meeting different policy purposes. Application of systematic strategies is illustrated by concrete examples from a variety of evaluation studies in different fields. The presentation of this new perspective directly addresses the needs and concerns in both the professional and applied areas of program evaluation. For program planners, decisionmakers, scholars and students, this volume will clarify, illuminate, and provide unique insights into the conception, construction, and implementation of a wide range of programs.

Download or read book Program Evaluation Theory and Practice written by Donna M. Mertens and published by Guilford Press. This book was released on 2012-02-20 with total page 642 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This engaging text takes an evenhanded approach to major theoretical paradigms in evaluation and builds a bridge from them to evaluation practice. Featuring helpful checklists, procedural steps, provocative questions that invite readers to explore their own theoretical assumptions, and practical exercises, the book provides concrete guidance for conducting large- and small-scale evaluations. Numerous sample studies—many with reflective commentary from the evaluators—reveal the process through which an evaluator incorporates a paradigm into an actual research project. The book shows how theory informs methodological choices (the specifics of planning, implementing, and using evaluations). It offers balanced coverage of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Useful pedagogical features include: *Examples of large- and small-scale evaluations from multiple disciplines. *Beginning-of-chapter reflection questions that set the stage for the material covered. *"Extending your thinking" questions and practical activities that help readers apply particular theoretical paradigms in their own evaluation projects. *Relevant Web links, including pathways to more details about sampling, data collection, and analysis. *Boxes offering a closer look at key evaluation concepts and additional studies. *Checklists for readers to determine if they have followed recommended practice. *A companion website with resources for further learning.

Download or read book Evaluation Theory Models and Applications written by Daniel L. Stufflebeam and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-10-13 with total page 800 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The golden standard evaluation reference text Now in its second edition, Evaluation Theory, Models, and Applications is the vital text on evaluation models, perfect for classroom use as a textbook, and as a professional evaluation reference. The book begins with an overview of the evaluation field and program evaluation standards, and proceeds to cover the most widely used evaluation approaches. With new evaluation designs and the inclusion of the latest literature from the field, this Second Edition is an essential update for professionals and students who want to stay current. Understanding and choosing evaluation approaches is critical to many professions, and Evaluation Theory, Models, and Applications, Second Edition is the benchmark evaluation guide. Authors Daniel L. Stufflebeam and Chris L. S. Coryn, widely considered experts in the evaluation field, introduce and describe 23 program evaluation approaches, including, new to this edition, transformative evaluation, participatory evaluation, consumer feedback, and meta-analysis. Evaluation Theory, Models, and Applications, Second Edition facilitates the process of planning, conducting, and assessing program evaluations. The highlighted evaluation approaches include: Experimental and quasi-experimental design evaluations Daniel L. Stufflebeam's CIPP Model Michael Scriven's Consumer-Oriented Evaluation Michael Patton's Utilization-Focused Evaluation Robert Stake's Responsive/Stakeholder-Centered Evaluation Case Study Evaluation Key readings listed at the end of each chapter direct readers to the most important references for each topic. Learning objectives, review questions, student exercises, and instructor support materials complete the collection of tools. Choosing from evaluation approaches can be an overwhelming process, but Evaluation Theory, Models, and Applications, Second Edition updates the core evaluation concepts with the latest research, making this complex field accessible in just one book.

Download or read book Evaluation Foundations Revisited written by Thomas Schwandt and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 2015-06-17 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Evaluation examines policies and programs across every arena of human endeavor, from efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS to programs that drive national science policy. Relying on a vast array of methods, from qualitative interviewing to econometrics, it is a "transdiscipline," as opposed to a formal area of academic study. Accounting for these challenges, Evaluation Foundations Revisited offers an introduction for those seeking to better understand evaluation as a professional field. While the acquisition of methods and methodologies to meet the needs of certain projects is important, the foundation of evaluative practice rests on understanding complex issues to balance. Evaluation Foundations Revisited is an invitation to examine the intellectual, practical, and philosophical nexus that lies at the heart of evaluation. Thomas A. Schwandt shows how to critically engage with the assumptions that underlie how evaluators define and position their work, as well as how they argue for the usefulness of evaluation in society. He looks at issues such as the role of theory, how notions of value and valuing are understood, how evidence is used, how evaluation is related to politics, and what comprises scientific integrity. By coming to better understand the foundations of evaluation, readers will develop what Schwandt terms "a life of the mind of practice," which enables evaluators to draw on a more holistic view to develop reasoned arguments and well fitted techniques.

Download or read book Qualitative Inquiry in Evaluation written by Leslie Goodyear and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-10-06 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Integrate qualitative inquiry approaches and methods into the practice of evaluation Qualitative inquiry can have a major effect on evaluation practice, and provides evaluators a means to explore and examine various settings and contexts in need of rich description and deeper understanding. Qualitative Inquiry in Evaluation: From Theory to Practice explores the most important considerations for both students and evaluation professionals. Using various evaluation theories and approaches as a springboard for real-world practice, this reference serves as an accessible text for beginning students and seasoned professionals alike. Readers are given an in-depth view of the key qualities and benefits of qualitative inquiry, which also serves as a crucial counterpart to quantitative analysis. Chapters in part one focus on the foundations, core concepts, and intersection of evaluation theory and qualitative inquiry. Part two contains contributions from leading evaluators whose design, implementation, and reporting strategies for qualitative inquiry are centered on common, real-world settings. These case-based chapters point to the strengths and challenges of implementing qualitative evaluations. Key competencies for conducting effective qualitative evaluations are also discussed. Explores the role of qualitative inquiry in many prominent approaches to evaluation Discusses the method's history and delves into key concepts in qualitative inquiry and evaluation Helps readers understand which qualities are necessary to be an effective qualitative evaluator Presents the viewpoints and experiences of expert editors and contributing authors with high levels of understanding on the topic Qualitative Inquiry in Evaluation: From Theory to Practice is a vital tool for evaluators and students alike who are looking to deepen their understanding of the theoretical perspectives and practice considerations of qualitative evaluation.

Download or read book Critical Social Theory and Evaluation Practice written by Melissa Freeman and published by Jossey-Bass. This book was released on 2010-10-12 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a practice meant to improve society, evaluation is implicated in discussions about which societal and cultural values and principles of justice will prevail and which ones will get subverted or ignored altogether. For the most part, as currently configured, the relationship of evaluators to policy makers has jeopardized evaluation's ability to provide the critical lens needed for feedback on the effects of a society's practices, policies, and structures. Many theorists believe that it is only by examining and critically assessing how knowledge is produced and reproduced in society that we can better reflect on and imagine new, more socially just, social configurations and relations. One such approach, critical theory, is a pedagogical practice that employs a systemic and historical critique of social and cultural formations and practices in a way that fosters citizens' abilities to evaluate and alter them. The intent of this issue of New Directions for Evaluation is to show the relevance of critical social theory for evaluation practice. Each of the authors in this volume addresses in a different way and from a variety of disciplinary fields what a critical theory lens might offer evaluation practice. This is the 127th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Evaluation, an official publication of the American Evaluation Association.

Download or read book Transformative Research and Evaluation written by Donna M. Mertens and published by Guilford Press. This book was released on 2008-10-29 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From distinguished scholar Donna M. Mertens, this core book provides a framework for making methodological decisions and conducting research and evaluations that promote social justice. The transformative paradigm has emerged from - and guides - a broad range of social and behavioral science research projects with communities that have been pushed to the margins, such as ethnic, racial, and sexual minority group members and children and adults with disabilities. Mertens shows how to formulate research questions based on community needs, develop researcher-community partnerships grounded in trust and respect, and skillfully apply quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods data collection strategies. Practical aspects of analyzing and reporting results are addressed, and numerous sample studies are presented. An ideal core book for graduate courses, or practitioner resource, the book includes: Commentary on the sample studies that explains what makes them transformative. Explanations of key concepts related to oppression, social justice, and the role of research and evaluation. Questions for Thought to stimulate critical self-reflection and discussion. Advance chapter organizers and chapter summaries. The book is intended for graduate students in psychology, education, social work, sociology, and nursing, as well as practicing researchers and program evaluators. It will serve as a core book or supplement in Research Methods, Program Evaluation, and Community Psychology courses.

Download or read book Practical Program Evaluation written by Huey-tsyh Chen and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2005 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Concentrates on the steps vital to program evaluation, including systematically identifying stakeholder needs, selecting evaluation options best suited to particular needs, and turning decisions into action.

Download or read book Feminist Evaluation and Research written by Sharon Brisolara and published by Guilford Publications. This book was released on 2014-03-31 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thought-provoking book explores the 'whats,' 'whys,' and 'hows' of integrating feminist theory and methods into applied research and evaluation practice. Illustrative cases drawn from U.S. and international studies address a range of social and health issues. The book provides an overview of feminist theory and research strategies as well as detailed discussions of how to use a feminist lens, practical steps and challenges in implementation, and what feminist methods contribute to research and evaluation projects. Reflections at the close of each section invite the reader to consider key questions and common themes across the chapters. With a focus on social justice models, the book covers ways to conduct feminist research and evaluation in effective, innovative, and culturally competent ways in diverse social and cultural contexts.

Download or read book The Practice Theory Relationship in Evaluation written by Christina A. Christie and published by Jossey-Bass. This book was released on 2003-05-13 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exploring research's impact on evaluation practice The Practice-Theory Relationship in Evaluation: New Directions for Evaluation presents the finding of a unique empirical study of evaluation, comparing the reported practices of evaluation theorists with real-world practices in the field. A selection of leading authorities offer both analyses and perspectives on the study's impact on the field, prompting deep consideration of the role of empirical study of evaluation and the relationship between concept and practice. Empirical study of evaluation is key to improving practices and developing alternate approaches, and this book stimulates the level of debate necessary for determining future directions.

Download or read book Advocacy and Policy Change Evaluation written by Annette Gardner and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 2017-04-11 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first book-length treatment of the concepts, designs, methods, and tools needed to conduct effective advocacy and policy change evaluations. By integrating insights from different disciplines, Part I provides a conceptual foundation for navigating advocacy tactics within today's turbulent policy landscape. Part II offers recommendations for developing appropriate evaluation designs and working with unique advocacy and policy change–oriented instruments. Part III turns toward opportunities and challenges in this growing field. In addition to describing actual designs and measures, the chapters includes suggestions for addressing the specific challenges of working in a policy setting, such as a long time horizon for achieving meaningful change. To illuminate and advance this area of evaluation practice, the authors draw on over 30 years of evaluation experience; collective wisdom based on a new, large-scale survey of evaluators in the field; and in-depth case studies on diverse issues—from the environment, to public health, to human rights. Ideal for evaluators, change makers, and funders, this book is the definitive guide to advocacy and policy change evaluation.

Download or read book Context A Framework for Its Influence on Evaluation Practice written by Debra J. Rog and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-09-06 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Context is a force in evaluation. It shapes our practice, influencing how we approach and design our studies, how we carry them out, and how we report our findings. Context also moderates and mediates the outcomes of the programs and policies we evaluate. This issue focuses squarely on the role that context plays in practice and illuminates its effect on the implementation and outcomes of programs. Exploring the ways in which attending to context may improve the quality of evaluation practice, the contributions span theory, methods, and practice in an effort to move to a more comprehensive conceptualization of context that can guide our work. It: Provides an historical and theoretical view of evaluators’ treatment of context Illustrates how context has influenced evaluation practice Presents a five-area framework for guiding a contextual analysis of evaluations Introduces “context assessment,” which provides a means of integrating context and its implications within the important stages of evaluation. This is the 135th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Evaluation, an official publication of the American Evaluation Association.

Download or read book Practical Program Evaluation written by Huey T. Chen and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2014-10-06 with total page 465 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introducing students to the real world of evaluation and focusing on issues that arise in professional practice, this book shows readers how to systematically identify stakeholders' needs in order to select the evaluation options best suited to meet those needs.

Download or read book Foundations of Program Evaluation written by William R. Shadish and published by SAGE. This book was released on 1991 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Foundations of Program Evaluationheralds a thorough exploration of the field of program evaluation--looking back on its origins. By summarizing, comparing, and contrasting the work of seven major theorists of program evaluation, this book provides an important perspective on the current state of evaluation theory and provides suggestions for ways of improving its practice. Beginning in Chapter Two, the authors develop a conceptual framework to analyze how successfully each theory meets the specific criteria of its framework. Each subsequent chapter is devoted to the presentation of the theoretical and practical advice of a significant theorist--Michael Scriven, Donald Campbell, Carol Weiss, Joseph Wholey, Robert Stake, Lee Cronbach, and Peter Rossi.

Download or read book Introduction to Theory Driven Program Evaluation written by Stewart I. Donaldson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-09-30 with total page 229 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduction to Theory-Driven Program Evaluation provides a clear guide for practicing evaluation science, and numerous examples of how these evaluations actually unfold in contemporary practice. A special emphasis is placed how to conduct theory-driven program evaluations that are culturally responsive and strengths-focused. In this thoroughly revised new edition, author Stewart I. Donaldson provides a state-of-the art treatment of the basics of conducting theory-driven program evaluations. Each case follows a three-step model: developing program impact theory; formulating and prioritizing evaluation questions; and answering evaluation questions. The initial chapters discuss the evolution and popularity of theory-driven program evaluation, as well as step-by-step guide for culturally responsive and strengths-focused applications. Succeeding chapters provide actual cases and discuss the practical implications of theory-driven evaluation science. Reflections, challenges, and lessons learned across numerous cases from practices are discussed. The volume is of significant value to practicing evaluators, professors of introductory evaluation courses and their students, advanced undergraduate and graduate students, and serves as a text or a supplementary text for a wide range of evaluation and applied research courses. It is also of great interest to those interested in the connections between work and health, well-being, career development, human service organizations, and organizational improvement and effectiveness.

Download or read book Theory in Health Promotion Research and Practice written by Patricia Goodson and published by Jones & Bartlett Publishers. This book was released on 2010-10-25 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "It offers a more critical perspective of existing health promotion theories and challenges the student to create new theoretical frameworks for understanding human health and wellbeing. This unique text guides the reader to reflect on the process of thinking theoretically and provides practical strategies for applying theory to research and practice. The author employs a narrative perspective and writes in an informal, first-person style."--[Source inconnue].

Download or read book Evaluation Use and Decision Making in Society written by Christina A. Christie and published by IAP. This book was released on 2015-06-01 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume addresses a fundamental and highly debated issue in the evaluation field – the use of evaluation information for decision-making. Chapter authors honor the contributions of Professor Marvin C. Alkin to the evaluation use literature and advance our thinking on the topic by exploring a wide range of issues related to the theoretical and practical challenges of using evaluation information to make informed, evidence-based decisions. Readers will come away from this volume with a new and clearer understanding of the theoretical, contextual, methodological, and political dimensions of use and with direction for practice. Chapters are written by leading evaluation scholars, including Ernest House; Stewart Donaldson and Tarek Azzam; Eric Barela; Richard D. Nunneley, Jr., Jean A. King, Kelli Johnson, and Laura Pejsa; Eleanor Chelimsky; Michael Quinn Patton; and Wanda D. Casillas, Rodney K. Hopson and Ricardo L. Gomez. Evaluation Use and Decision-Making in Society: A Tribute to Marvin C. Alkin will be of great interest to evaluation students, scholars and practitioners. This volume has scholarly application for those who desire a state-of-the-art resource for the latest insights and perspectives on one of the most pressing issues that the evaluation field faces today, while also serving as a useful guide for both novice and experienced evaluation practitioners. It is appropriate for use in a variety of evaluation courses including Introduction to Evaluation and Procedural Issues in Evaluation as well as topical seminars such as Evaluation Use and Decision-Making.