Small-Scale Evaluation : Principles and Practice,9780761955108

Small-Scale Evaluation : Principles and Practice

by
ISBN13: 9780761955108
ISBN10: 0761955100
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2000-02-11
Publisher(s): SAGE Publications Ltd
List Price: $60.00

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Summary

How can evaluation be used most effectively, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of the various methods? Colin Robson provides guidance in a clear and uncluttered way. The issue of collaboration is examined step-by-step; stakeholder models are compared with techniques such as participatory evaluation and practitioner-centred action research; ethical and political considerations are placed in context; and the best ways of communicating findings are discussed. Each chapter is illustrated with helpful exercises to show the practical application of the issues covered, making this an invaluable introduction for anyone new to evaluation.

Table of Contents

Preface ix
Acknowledgements x
Introduction 1(1)
Who is the book for?
1(1)
What do you need to be able to carry out an evaluation?
2(1)
What is a small-scale evaluation?
3(1)
Using the book
3(1)
A note on `tasks'
4(1)
Initial tasks
4(2)
Evaluation: The What and the Why
6(9)
Why evaluate?
7(1)
What is evaluation?
8(3)
Possible foci for evaluation
11(2)
Tasks
13(2)
The Advantages of Collaboration
15(13)
Stakeholders
16(3)
Other models of involvement
19(3)
Using consultants
22(1)
Persuading practitioners to be involved
23(1)
When is some form of participatory evaluation indicated?
24(2)
Tasks
26(2)
Ethical and Political Considerations
28(17)
Ethical issues
29(1)
Consent
29(3)
Privacy
32(3)
Risk in relation to benefit
35(3)
The problem of unintended consequences
38(1)
Evaluations involving children and other vulnerable populations
39(1)
Ethical boards and committees
40(1)
The politics of evaluation
41(3)
Tasks
44(1)
Designs for Different Purposes
45(34)
Evaluation questions
45(3)
Types of evaluation
48(6)
Evaluation of outcomes
54(8)
Evaluation of processes
62(6)
Evaluating for improvement
68(10)
Tasks
78(1)
Getting Answers to Evaluation Questions
79(27)
Methods of collecting information
80(2)
Some commonly used research methods
82(19)
Sampling
101(1)
Prespecified v. emergent designs
102(1)
Doing a shoe-string evaluation
103(1)
Tasks
104(2)
Some Practicalities
106(15)
Time budgeting
106(3)
Gaining access
109(2)
Getting organized
111(2)
Analysing the data
113(7)
Tasks
120(1)
Communicating the Findings
121(6)
Evaluation reports
121(3)
Facilitating the implementation of evaluation findings
124(1)
Tasks
125(1)
Postscripts
126(1)
Appendix A: Needs Analysis 127(9)
Defining need
127(1)
Carrying out a need analysis
128(1)
Methods and techniques for assessing need
128(4)
Analysis of existing data
132(2)
Putting it together
134(2)
Appendix B: Efficiency (Cost and Benefit) Analysis 136(5)
Costs
136(1)
Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses
137(1)
Measuring costs
137(1)
People and time
138(1)
Facilities and other physical resources
139(1)
Other perspectives on costs
140(1)
Appendix C: Code of Ethics 141(3)
References and Author Index 144(7)
Index 151

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