Download or read book Responding to Sponsors and Stakeholders in Complex Evaluation Environments written by Rakesh Mohan and published by Jossey-Bass. This book was released on 2002-10-10 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Solving complex evaluation environments with competing stakeholder needs Responding to Sponsors and Stakeholders in Complex Evaluation Environments: New Directions for Evaluation, Number 95 provides in-depth guidance on answering the question: "For whom are we doing this evaluation, anyway?". The answer may be more complex that it appears, and right and wrong answers may actually overlap. This book identifies the challenges of complex evaluation environments, and shows you how to meet the multiple — often competing — needs of everyone involved. From difficulties in context and authorization to initiatives and legislation, this book provides insight every evaluation organization needs.
Download or read book Evaluation Ethics for Best Practice written by Michael Morris and published by Guilford Press. This book was released on 2007-09-22 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Focusing on ethical challenges in program evaluation, this innovative book features six case-study scenarios that end at a point where the evaluator faces a significant decision about how to proceed. For each case, two distinguished evaluators offer insights on the best course of action to choose, and why. "What If?" boxes modify the details of the scenarios, inviting readers to reflect on whether these changes alter the ethical implications of the case. Six additional cases are presented with questions that guide readers to develop their own ethical analyses. The book is organized to follow the progress of an evaluation, from the entry/contracting phase through the utilization of results.
Download or read book Tackling Wicked Problems in Complex Ecologies written by Rodney Hopson and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 2018-05-01 with total page 379 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tackling Wicked Problems in Complex Ecologies is a call to action, focusing on the role that evaluators can play in addressing social and economic problems. Evaluation extends beyond theories and methods, encompassing a range of proven approaches for addressing ecological complexities that drive inequities around the globe. Bringing together leading thinkers and problem-solvers, this collection traverses the range of contexts at the frontiers of the field—from inadequate food supply and housing to unemployment and poverty. Editors Rodney Hopson and Fiona Cram demonstrate the effects of an engaged approach to evaluation, in which three considerations take center stage: its relevance, the relationships it engenders, and the responsibilities it requires. This is a handbook for tackling the social and economic problems of the twenty-first century which, though wicked, are amenable to the tools of the trade.
Download or read book Utilization Focused Evaluation written by Michael Quinn Patton and published by SAGE Publications. This book was released on 2008-06-18 with total page 689 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Fourth Edition of the bestselling Utilization-Focused Evaluation provides expert, detailed advice on conducting program evaluations from one of leading experts. Chock full of useful pedagogy—including a unique utilization-focused evaluation checklist—this book presents Michael Quinn Patton′s distinctive opinions based on more than thirty years of experience. Key Features of the Fourth Edition Provides thoroughly updated materials including more international content; new references; new exhibits and sidebars; and new examples, stories, and cartoons Includes follow-up exercises at the end of each chapter Features a utilization-focused evaluation checklist Gives greater emphasis on mixed methods Analyzes the pluses and minuses of the increased emphasis on accountability and performance measurement in government at all levels Details the explosion of international evaluation Intended Audience Both theoretical and practical, this core text is an essential resource for students enrolled in Program Evaluation courses in a variety of disciplines—including public administration, government, social sciences, education, and management. Practitioners will also find this text invaluable.
Download or read book The SAGE Handbook of Evaluation written by Ian Shaw and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2006-07-10 with total page 631 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ′This handbook thoroughly covers all aspects of evaluation, yet isn′t too technical to understand. It offers everything an organization needs to know to get the most out of evaluation′ - Nonprofit World `The Handbook succeeds in capturing and presenting evaluation′s extensive knowledge base within a global context. In so doing it provides a useful, coherent and definitive benchmark on the field′s diverse and dynamic purposes, practices, theories, approaches, issues, and challenges for the 21st century. The Handbook is an essential reference and map for any serious evaluation practitioner, scholar and student anywhere in the world′ - Michael Quinn Patton, author of Utilization-Focused Evaluation `Readers of this volume will find a set of texts that provide an evocative overview of contemporary thinking in the world of evaluation. This is not a book of simple tips. It does justice to the complex realities of evaluation practice by bringing together some of the best practitioners in the world to reflect on its current state. It is theoretically sophisticated yet eminently readable, anchored in evaluation as it is undertaken in a variety of domains. It is the kind of book that startles a little and makes you think. I highly recommend it′ - Murray Saunders, University of Lancaster In this comprehensive handbook, an examination of the complexities of contemporary evaluation contributes to the ongoing dialogue that arises in professional efforts to evaluate people-related programs, policies and practices. The SAGE Handbook of Evaluation is a unique and authoritative resource consisting of 25 chapters covering a range of evaluation theories and techniques in a single, accessible volume. With contributions from world-leading figures in their fields overseen by an eminent international editorial board, this handbook is an extensive and user-friendly resource organised in four coherent sections: " Role and Purpose of Evaluation in Society; " Evaluation as a Social Practice; " The Practice of Evaluation; " Domains of Evaluation Practice. The Handbook of Evaluation is written for practicing evaluators, academics, advanced postgraduate students and evaluation clients and offers a definitive, benchmark statement on evaluation theory and practice for the first decades of the 21st century.
Download or read book The Public Policy Primer written by Xun Wu and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-14 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fully revised for a second edition, this essential guide provides a concise and accessible overview of the public policy process: agenda-setting, policy formulation, decision-making, implementation, and evaluation. The book provides an introduction to the key policy functions, the challenges they entail, and how the challenges may be addressed by policy actors. Written from a comparative perspective, the authors include examples from a diverse range of countries at different stages of development, highlighting key principles and practices through which policy actors can effectively manage their policy processes and outcomes. Key features of the second edition: fully updated and revised content throughout; expanded references and further reading; more guidance towards understanding the key concepts in public policy. This important tool offers students of public policy and policy practitioners guidance on how to make, implement, and evaluate public policies in ways that improve citizens' lives.
Download or read book Accountability in Social Services written by Jill Florence Lackey and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-05-22 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Accountability in Social Services examines how - and why - social and human services programs can function even though they are monitored by written communication instead of face-to-face interaction. Author Jill Florence Lackey draws on her experience as a consultant for more than 50 social programs and as director of two nonprofit organizations to demonstrate the strong need for accountability mechanisms and an ethics-based leadership when running social service programs. This unique book walks you through the process of how “paper programs” emerge and operate, the monitoring mechanisms that are - and aren’t - in place during program operations, and recommendations to increase accountability in the social service delivery system. The book examines programs focusing on: youth aftercare adolescent health drug prevention rural community development crime prevention violence intervention services to the homeless and more. Accountability in Social Services concludes with recommendations for organized action by consumer groups to increase responsibility in the social service delivery system. This book is invaluable as a resource for students, teachers, and practitioners working in social work and welfare, evaluation, organizational leadership, public policy, applied anthropology, and consumer science, including local organizations such as PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups).
Download or read book The Jossey Bass Reader on Nonprofit and Public Leadership written by Jossey-Bass Publishers and published by John Wiley and Sons. This book was released on 2009-12-09 with total page 693 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An ideal resource for students and professionals, this comprehensive reader offers a diverse collection of the foremost writings on leadership and management in the public and nonprofit sectors. The book includes previously published essays, articles and extracts from leading books and periodicals, framed and vetted by author and professor James L. Perry. The anthology covers a wide range of topics, offering a third sector perspective on the general leadership questions essential to any manager--principles and practices of leadership, organizational change, corporate culture, communication, efficiency, ethics--as well as issues unique to public and nonprofit organizations--understanding leadership roles in the nonprofit world, founder vs. ED relationships, board leadership, alternative and collaborative leadership, strategic management, sustainability, and the future of leadership. Praise for The Jossey-Bass Reader on Nonprofit and Public Leadership: "The Jossey-Bass Reader on Nonprofit and Public Leadership is the most comprehensive collection of essays on leadership available. It should be required reading for all of those who teach, practice and are students of the art and science of leadership." ?Stephen E. Condrey, University of Georgia "This collection of short and readable pieces will be very valuable for students and practitioners of public and nonprofit leadership." ?Michael O'Neill, professor of nonprofit management, School of Business and Professional Studies, University of San Francisco "James Perry has provided a very valuable tool for nonprofit and public sector leaders. This collection represents the very best lessons for leaders, from John Gardner to Kouzes and Posner. The clear structuring and framing of the articles makes this a perfect handbook for nonprofit and public sector leaders of all types." ?Ronald E. Riggio, Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology Director, Kravis Leadership Institute, Claremont McKenna College "Jim Perry brings together in a single volume much of the best writing on leadership theory and leadership 'doing.' For anyone interested in the attributes and practice of leadership, this is the book, looking back at what's been proven effective and forward to what's needed in the next generation of leaders." ?Timothy L. Seiler, director, The Fund Raising School, The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
Download or read book Crime and Regulation written by Fiona Haines and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-11-30 with total page 554 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume brings together key articles in the burgeoning field of regulation. The collection is interdisciplinary, in keeping with study of regulation itself, yet the book arranges and explores these articles to make the bewildering array of issues and concepts that comprise the study of regulation comprehensible to a criminological audience. It will be of interest to all scholars and students of criminology and criminal justice, as well as those concerned with reducing the crimes and harms of the powerful.
Download or read book Co Constructing a Contextually Responsive Evaluation Framework The Talent Development Model of Reform written by Veronica G. Thomas and published by Jossey-Bass. This book was released on 2004-05-05 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume presents the Talent Development evaluation framework, an approach for evaluating urban school reform interventions deeply embedded in the work of the Howard University Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed At Risk (CRESPAR) and the Talent Development Model of School Reform. The CRESPAR Talent Development (TD) evaluation approach is rooted in several traditions of evaluation that intentionally seek engagement with contexts of practice. These traditions include responsive, participatory, empowerment, and culturally competent approaches to evaluation. The CRESPAR TD evaluation approach also takes up themes of inclusiveness and partnership advanced by the recent promotion of multiple methods in evaluation. With these themes, the TD evaluation approach is viably grounded in well-accepted evaluation concepts and principles. The approach further seeks to be practical, useful, formative, and empowering for the many individuals served by TD evaluations and to give “voice” to persons whose perspectives are often ignored, minimized, or rejected in urban school settings. Beyond such grounding and ambitions, the CRESPAR TD evaluation framework seeks to re-position evaluation in low-income urban contexts as accountable, not only for producing accurate and relevant information on the program being evaluated, but also for enabling and contributing to the program’s social betterment and social justice intentions. This re-positioning is effected primarily by a collaborative, co-constructionist model for evaluation in which CRESPAR program developers, implementers, and evaluators – along with key program stakeholders – partner together in envisioning, implementing, and evaluating programs that are responsive to and make cultural sense in the context at hand. CRESPAR TD evaluators are contextually and culturally engaged and are responsible for this engagement. This volume highlights the approach’s five major themes: engaging stakeholders, co-construction, responsiveness, cultural and contextual relevance, and triangulation of perspectives.
Download or read book Health Policy and Politics written by Jeri A. Milstead and published by Jones & Bartlett Publishers. This book was released on 2014-12 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide, Fifth Edition encompasses the entire health policy process from agenda setting through policy and program evaluation. This is an essential text for both graduate and undergraduate students. The Fifth Edition includes expanded information on the breadth of policy making and includes the impact of social media, economics, finance and other timely topics. The authors draw from their experience and provide concrete examples of real-life situations that help students understand the link between policy theory and political action. New to the Fifth Edition: Updated case studies involve the reader in making the connection between theory and active participation in policy making New chapter on inter-professional practice, education, and research Reference to the Affordable Care Act and other laws that affect the health care of consumers and the organization of health care system Expanded content on economics and finance New co
Download or read book Promoting the Use of Government Evaluations in Policymaking written by Rakesh Mohan and published by Jossey-Bass. This book was released on 2007-03-05 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Public policymaking is a high-stakes business that affects millions of citizens and budgets ranging in the billions of tax dollars in even the smallest of states. Policymakers need timely evaluative information reported in understandable language by unbiased sources. It is this need that evaluators at all levels of government, as well as those in many nonprofit organizations, seek to meet as they conduct evaluations, analyze policy options, and recommend action on the part of policymakers. The authors contributing to this volume examine theoretical and practical approaches to designing evaluation projects in ways that promote the use of evaluation results in high-stakes settings. The volume explores management of the politics of evaluation, which can be accomplished by considering the context in which an evaluation occurs and examining strategies for maximizing both evaluators' independence from and their responsiveness to key stakeholders. Unconventional approaches, such as prospective evaluation and development of analytical tools for use by agency personnel, are examined, as is promotion of evaluation use through a symbiotic relationship with performance measurement. The chapter authors discuss utilization strategies as applied to evaluations of public health, education, and corrections programs. The final chapter provides sage advice to evaluators on how to impact policy development.
Download or read book Conventional and Participatory Evaluation written by Lyn Paleo and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 990 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Critical Issues in STEM Evaluation written by Douglas Huffman and published by Jossey-Bass. This book was released on 2006-03-31 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume of New Directions for Evaluation focuses on evaluation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs, with special emphasis on evaluation of STEM education initiatives. STEM evaluation has always been important, given the issues facing public schools and the economic and social considerations of STEM fields. But because these fields today face a variety of concerns, this discussion of STEM evaluation is particularly timely. Evaluation advances may contribute to STEM fields by helping programs address the challenges they face. This volume presents multiple viewpoints and state-of-the-art examples and methodological approaches in the hope that its chapters will contribute to the understanding of STEM evaluation, STEM education, STEM education evaluation, and evaluation in general. Overall, this volume of New Directions for Evaluation may help not only to move the field to consider new methods and methodologies for engaging in evaluation but also to reconsider ideas of what it means to engage in scientific evaluation.
Download or read book Enduring Issues in Evaluation The 20th Anniversary of the Collaboration Between NDE and AEA written by Sandra Mathison and published by Jossey-Bass. This book was released on 2007-06-29 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This issue of New Directions for Evaluation looks back at the past twenty years of the American Evaluation Association, from its inception to current research, highlighting important moments and enduring issues in the discipline and profession of evaluation. The issue includes a very brief history of NDE--including the journal's purpose, the various foci, how the journal has operated, and such events as the change in the journal's name. The issue also looks at the substance of NDE over the past twenty years, including an analysis of the coverage of cultural diversity issues. But much of the issue is devoted to "greatest hits" chapters that have appeared in prior NDE issues, each of which is introduced by an analysis of what makes it a significant contribution to the evaluation literature. The American Evaluation Association (AEA) celebrated its twentieth birthday in 2006. The partnership between AEA and New Directions for Evaluation has spanned this time and indeed stretches back further to AEA's precursor associations, the Evaluation Research Society and ENet. This is the 114th volume of the quarterly report series New Directions for Evaluation, a publication of Jossey-Bass and the American Evaluation Association.
Download or read book Pitfalls and Pratfalls Null and Negative Findings in Evaluating Interventions written by Robert Nash Parker and published by Jossey-Bass. This book was released on 2006-09-11 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume examines the problem of null or negative evaluation findings, a topic rarely discussed in the literature but all too commonplace in the experience of evaluators. The Southern California Center of Excellence on Youth Violence Prevention, housed in the Robert Presley Center for Crime and Justice Studies at the University of California, Riverside, has taken up the challenge to discuss candidly evaluation efforts that can be described only as challenging. The individual chapters discuss a range of design, implementation, and analysis issues relevant not only to evaluation studies but also to interventions that can contribute to negative or null findings in the evaluation of an intervention program. These problems that are the realities of life for anyone who conducts prevention and intervention research are typically the stuff of research seminar comments and barroom digressions late in the evening at professional meetings. This issue brings those important lessons into the larger discussion that will influence prevention science and public policy. The contributors to this volume not only admit a set of problems and shortcomings but also attempt to draw general lessons, cautions, and advice for those who evaluate prevention and intervention efforts. This is the 110th volume of New Directions for Evaluation, a quarterly journal published by Jossey-Bass.
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.
