Small-Scale Evaluation : Principles and

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.

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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Small-Scale Evaluation : Principles and Practice

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials