This project requires you to conduct an evaluation assessment of a social program in a public or nonprofit agency that they select. This assessment will inform program managers and stakeholders whether they should proceed with an actual evaluation of the program and, if so, what type of evaluation would best address the problem. For example, some problems may be best addressed through a needs assessment while others might require a demonstration project. You must conduct the scoping necessary for an evaluation assessment and write a proposal in the format of a professional report. Keep in mind that you are designing a proposal for evaluating a program and are expected to follow the protocols of designing a proposal. However, note that you are only required to design the proposal; you are not expected to conduct the actual evaluation itself. The report must decide upon and justify the most appropriate type of evaluation for your program of study using informed reading and what you learned in class. This will require you to prepare a literature review (citing results from previous studies), select and defend a research methodology (recognizing its potential disadvantages or flaws), and create a logic model describing inputs, activities, outputs, and potential for actual outcomes (initial, intermediate, and long-term). Your results may indicate that more work is necessary before an evaluation can be conducted on your program, but your proposal must demonstrate that this is the case through research and appropriate use of the strategies learned in class. Key subjects to consider: Who are the clients/stakeholders for the evaluation? What questions and issues are driving the evaluation? What resources are available? What is the logic of the program? What environmental issues are in play? Is the research design feasible? What data are available? What evaluation strategy is most appropriate? Should the evaluation be undertaken? Why? Detailed recommendations. Structure: Project title. Executive summary. Briefly summarize sections 5(a), 6, 7, and 8 from below. Introduction & Background. Include information on the context around the program, information on your primary client and stakeholders, and the purpose of your project. Draw a logic model representing the program theory and/or describe/depict the causal model. Literature Review. Findings from the literature on your program or similar programs, the social problem, or on the need for your program. Use at least five relevant reports, articles, books, or other sources), with complete references. Emphasis should be on scholarly reports, books, and articles, and not on magazines and newspapers. Cite your sources in-text as well as in the references section. Objectives, scope, and methodology (Research Design): (a) Lay out the question(s) answered by the evaluation assessment study, including at least one question focusing on policy or program outcomes. Identify the data that need to be collected to answer each question. Identify data sources. Select and describe data collection procedures. Give evidence as to the validity, reliability, and credibility of the data. Select and discuss the data analysis methods used to answer each question. Findings. Include detailed descriptions of findings, relevant tables, charts, or graphs. Assess potential limitations of evaluating the program? How can you overcome these limitations? Recommendations. Include likely costs and consequences of implementing the evaluation. Conclusion. Communicate the findings and any recommendations to the primary client and stakeholders. Identify how you will encourage the use of the evaluation assessment information by the clients. Discuss the likely or actual uses of the evaluation information. Discuss the lessons learned from this exercise; overall experience; knowledge gained (be sure to also include this in the presentation). References. Appendices. Appendix A: Copies of data collection instruments used in your project. Appendix B: Anything materials (diagrams; tables; etc.) that are relevant to the report but cannot fit within the page length limitations (be sure to include appropriate in-text references).
