Demystifying Evaluation: Practical Approaches for Researchers and Users

by David Parsons

Overview

If a social service agency is going to be effective, it has to be evaluated regularly to determine whether it is meeting its goals and actually delivering the services it intends to. To do so well, however, requires skilled evaluators and an understanding within agencies of what their role entails. This brief introductory guidebook aims to demystify the work of evaluation, from basic concepts and approaches to choices of methods and implementation. Combining theoretical and practical aspects, it will be of use at all stages of considering, commissioning, conducting, and critiquing evaluations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447333906
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	04/15/2017
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

David Parsons is visiting professor at Leeds Beckett University and a principal consultant at P&A Research and Consulting. He is also a program evaluator with over thirty years of experience in independent public policy analysis in the United Kingdom, Europe, and internationally.

Table of Contents

List of figures iv

List of examples v

Acknowledgements vii

Preface ix

Glossary of selected evaluation terms xi

1 Introduction 1

2 Compilation: setting the right foundations 15

3 Composition: designing for needs 43

4 Conducting process evaluation 63

5 Conducting economic evaluation 83

6 Conducting impact evaluation 103

7 Analysis, reporting and communications 133

8 Emerging challenges for evaluation and evaluators 157

References 173

Annex A The ROTUR Framework for managing evaluation expectations 181

Annex B Ready reckoner guide to experimentation choices in impact evaluation 187

Index 189

Editorial Reviews

"This book gets to the heart of the practical and methodological issues evaluators face. An excellent resource for social researchers and commissioners alike."

Lindsey Bowes

"Evaluating the effects of spending public money is crucial, but in many policy areas it is easier said than done. Parsons draws on his considerable experience in this very accessible introductory guide which will be of interest to both evaluators and policy leads alike."

Barbara Leach

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