The introduction
To improve conditions in local communities certain programs were created. The most well-known types of programs include surveillance systems, training programs, direct service interventions, social marketing campaigns, administrative systems, etc. The stated purpose of the case study is to clarify what types of evaluation seem to be more appropriate for a common understanding of program evaluation.
Program evaluation
Health and development program represents the most effective type of evaluation, as it provides the stakeholders with an opportunity to clarify program plans, improve program effectiveness and communication among partners.
One is to keep in mind that while choosing the type of evaluation, it is necessary to determine what should be evaluated and what evaluation criteria must be used. To make a sound evaluation, it is important to engage stakeholders, gather credible evidence, describe the program, focus the evaluation design and justify conclusions.
The most common purposes of the evaluation are to gain insight, to determine the effects of the program and to affect the participants (Berkowitz & Nagy, 2012). To gain insight, it is necessary to determine certain barriers, which may prevent the program implementation. While determining the effects of the program, it is necessary to take the decision concerning resources allocation. To affect participants, there is a need to gather success stories.
The methods available for the evaluation include case study designs, quasi-experimental designs and experimental designs. Generally, it should be noted that different methods give the stakeholders an opportunity to answer different questions. For this reason, no method is necessarily best.
Analysis and synthesis can be regarded as the key methods, which are used to generalize the evaluation’s findings. Thus, they provide the stakeholders with an opportunity to analyze each evidence element and to summarize all required sources. Indicators, sources, quality, quantity and logistics are recognized to be the most appropriate features of evidence.
To ensure use and share lessons learned the following key elements must be used: design, preparation, feedback, follow-up, and dissemination. Feedback is of particular importance, as it is a two-way street. “The folks engaged in the day-to-day operation of the organization and its programs can benefit from learning what seems to be working well and what doesn’t, and from understanding what needs to be changed to improve results” (Hampton, 2012).
While developing an evaluation design, some standards must be applied. These include utility standards, which are needed to receive evidence that the evaluation is truly useful (stakeholder identification, evaluator credibility, information scope and selection, values identification, report clarity, report timeliness and dissemination, evaluation impact); feasibility standards are needed to receive evidence that the evaluation makes sense (practical procedures, political viability and cost effectiveness); propriety standards are needed to receive evidence that the evaluation is an ethical one (service orientation, formal agreements, rights of human subjects, human interactions, complete and fair assessment, disclosure of findings, conflict of interest and fiscal responsibility); accuracy standards are needed to receive evidence that the findings of evaluation are correct (program documentation, context analysis, described purposes, defensible information sources, valid information, reliable information, systematic information, analysis of quantitative information, analysis of qualitative information, justified conclusions, impartial reporting and meta-evaluation).
The conclusion
Stakeholder-Based Evaluation is recognized to be a powerful strategy, which is needed to improve some existing programs as well as create new sound ones. The systematic investigation of certain objects and efforts has been improved during the past decades. Thus, many new programs have been developed.
References
Berkowitz, B., & Nagy, J. (2012). Conducting Needs Assessment Surveys. Ku.edu. Retrieved from: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/conducting-needs-assessment-surveys/main
Hampton, C. (2012). Providing Feedback to Improve the Initiative. Ku.edu. Retrieved from: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/evaluate/evaluation-to-understand-and-improve/feedback-for-improvement/main