Overview of Program Evaluation
Introduction
Evaluation is a term that is not abstract in definition due to the varied angles of approach and application that several individuals and organization can adopt to carry out an evaluation. Essentially though the common element in all forms of evaluations is that evaluations are a measure of efficiency, effectiveness and impact. Efficiency measures the productivity of the phenomena under evaluation while effectiveness measures the degree of goals and objectives accomplishment. Impact on the other hand measures the changes that are involved (Boulmetis & Dutwin, 2005). This paper presents an analysis of the importance of evaluation followed by a discussion on five common modules of conducting an evaluation. Subsequently, an analysis of one of the five models presented is described in greater detail.
According to Boulmetis & Dutwin (2005), evaluation is defined as the systematic process of the collection of data. Such data then becomes helpful in the identification of strengths and weaknesses of a program or a project. Evaluation involves measuring the success of the firm in achieving set goals and objectives while at the same time provides information that is crucial in decision making.
Evaluations can be done for several reasons. Foremost, evaluators are centrally concerned about alternative methods that a project can be completed through to produce better results. In essence, evaluations are done to gauge whether the project or program could be done differently with better outcomes or with application of lesser resources or more resources depending on the outcome of the program or project. This outcome could be measured as either quality or quantity depending on the interest and inclinations of the evaluation (Boulmetis & Dutwin, 2005).Posavac & Carey (2007) agree and add that evaluations are very crucial in the provision of feedback that is used to gauge the achievements, failures, strengths and weaknesses of a program or project in line with the set goals and objectives.
The Second reason for evaluation according to Boulmetis & Dutwin (2005) is so as to provide justification for the program whether it is for future funding or in gauging the achievements of the organization with regard to the attainment of the goals and objectives that were set out at the commencement of the program or project. Justification in this instance could also be done for reasons such as sourcing for additional funding for the continuation of the project in future. Posavac & Carey (2007) call this value assessment where the worth of the program is measured in order to make crucial decisions regarding discontinuation or proceeding with the project.
Lastly, an evaluation is done so that improvements can be advanced on a program or a project. In this regard the evaluators are concerned with means and ways that the project or program can adopt different approaches to arrive at the same goals and objectives. The aim of such an evaluation is to change the current state of the project in order to achieve better results in the future (Boulmetis & Dutwin, 2005). Posavac & Carey (2007) describe this as refining the program or project which ensures that certain aspects of the program that did not work well are fine tuned to work better through making appropriate adjustments.
Five Common Models of Program Evaluation
Evaluations are meant for analyzing the current position of a program or project in measuring its prospects with respect to the set goals and objectives. There are several approaches that can be used to evaluate this position. The five most commonly used models include; the traditional model, the social science research model, the industrial inspection model, the black box evaluation model and the objectives-based evaluation model. However, other than these five major models there are other models that are as well used in the evaluation model which is to say that these five models are not limited options that are available as means for evaluation (Posavac & Carey 2007).
Description of the Social Sciences Research Model
Evaluation of through this model takes form of experimentation such that the evaluation takes place in a controlled setting with conditions that the researcher sets out to analyze certain characteristics of a program or project. Since it is a scientific approach to problem solving it normally encompasses the evaluator taking sample populations and subjecting these to certain control conditions. The results achieved are then compared with the results of the same project or program in absentia of the conditions created by the researcher(Posavac & Carey 2007).
However, Boulmetis & Dutwin (2005) note that evaluation should not be confused with research as the research commonly entails the control of conditions towards the achievement of particular results. In this regard, the purpose of evaluation unlike research is to compare outcomes of two sets of programs or projects in gauging the success or failure of the project or program under the given circumstances.
The social Sciences Research model is quite effective in evaluation since experimental approaches generally provide a great promise when applied faithfully. None the less, there are disadvantages that come with the application of this model that are related to experimental errors such as wrong size of sample population which may be misrepresentative of the final results obtained from the evaluation. Notwithstanding, this model is very effective in the conduction of objective analysis in evaluations to provide concrete results based on empirical study (Posavac & Carey 2007).
Conclusion
Evaluation is an essential element of measuring the successes and failures, advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses etcetera of a program or a project. Essentially, this paper has analyzed theimportance of the evaluation process with regard to several purposes of evaluation. It has also discussed several options for evaluation although there are several other options that are not presented here in. In addition, the paper has detailed how the Social Sciences model works presenting its strengths and weaknesses as well.
Works Cited
Boulmetis, J. &Dutwin, P. (2005). The ABCs of evaluation: Timeless techniques for program and project managers. (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass/John Wiley & Sons.
Posavac, E., & Carey, R. (2007). Program evaluation: Methods and case studies. (7th ed.).Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
