Program Evaluation in Practice: Core Concepts and Examples for Discussion and Analysis

by Dean T. Spaulding

The lack of teaching cases in program evaluation is often cited as a gap in the field. This ground-breaking book fills this gap, covering the essentials of program evaluation as it is used in education and with a wide variety of evaluation projects to be discussed, analyzed, and reflected upon. The book covers the essentials of program evaluation, including foundation and types of evaluation, tools for collecting data, writing of reports, and sharing of findings. Individual cases cover classroom instruction, community-based program, teacher training, professional development, a secondary-school based program, after-school program, reading achievement, school-improvement grant, and confidentiality. Each case is structured to include learning objectives, program description, evaluation plan, summary of evaluation activities and findings, key concepts, discussion questions, class activities, and suggested reading. As useful for students as it is for evaluators in training, Program Evaluation in Practice is a must-have for those aspiring to become effective evaluators.

Genres: Education

145 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

Reviews

[Bari Mir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and very accessible introduction to program evaluation. I read this book when I got my first job, which was a full time paid internship in state government. The book gave me a good foundation that I could easily apply to understand and approach multiple projects, maintain progress and provide clarity on contracts I was overseeing, while staying a few steps ahead of coworkers and leaders at work who didn’t have a methods or research background. The chapter on formative vs summarize program evaluation is a big help! Even if you are studying/taking a course on program evaluation where you will receive more technical training, I highly recommend this book to help you internalize and practice the many important elements and methodology of program evaluation.

[Gordon Eldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book because as a school administrator in an independent school I need to be involved in evaluating the programs in my school. This book was not much help for my own particular situation. It is aimed at students of program evaluation who intend to become professional program evaluators. The back cover of the book claims that "The book addresses foundations and theories of evaluation, tools and methods for collecting data, writing of reports, and the sharing of findings". While this is true, the sections on tools and methods, writing reports and sharing findings are skeletal summaries taking up only a few pages. This is definitely not a 'how to' book. Having said that, the bulk of the book is taken up by case studies which are are varied and quite useful. They cover a range of dilemmas that an evaluator might encounter in the field using real examples. The examples range from ethical dilemmas faced by evaluators to confidentiality issues, observer effects, using benchmarks and a number of other issues. These are quite a useful set of case studies for those who plan to become professional external evaluators, but are not always as relevant to internal evaluators. Areas which are not covered in much detail are specific issues surrounding the writing of evaluation objectives, the selection of data collection methods and the design of data collection tools.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

The information is useful as a supplement to denser texts on the same subject in its use of narrative, which serves to demonstrate what certain concepts would look like in practice (just like the title implies). However, that pro is also a very severe con - the narratives were overdone. I frankly do not give two shakes of a rat's caboose that the principal told the external evaluator she could cut to the front of the lunch line at lunchtime since she was an employee, or that he picks up two oranges and hands one to her while keeping one for himself.

It ultimately felt as if Spaulding was pandering to program evaluation hobbyists who happen to read at the middle school level.

[Dorian · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the only textbook for a beginning class on Program Evaluation. I think it was an incredibly poor choice, because it doesn't actually teach any methodology. All it does is give case studies with ethical dilemmas. It's more of a supplemental book to the field.