CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Introduction

1. Introduction to Evaluation
2. What Does an Evaluation Project Look Like
3. Understanding Types of Evaluation Projects
4. Preparing for Your Evaluation

Supplements
Resources

Evaluation for the Unevaluated:
Program Evaluation 101

Choosing an Evaluator/Evaluation Team

Jack had heard from his colleagues about the difficulties in choosing an evaluator. But he also knew he couldn't do it himself. Do-it-yourself sounded scary-he envisioned sleeping at the office, wearing the same shirt 3 days in a row, forgetting his wife's name.

Conducting an outcome evaluation on your own is not advisable because:

1. Expertise is needed in designing and selecting questionnaires, surveys, and other data collection instruments.
2. Statistical analysis has reached a stage that requires training and experience. No, your college statistics class doesn't count.
3. Outcome evaluation requires a great deal of time. It's not something you can do on a slow day.
4. The results of an internal evaluation might be subject to criticism due to concerns about objectivity. Evaluating your own program is like grading your own paper. Of course, you'll get an A.

These all apply to Jack. Heck, he couldn't even bake cookies for his evaluation meetings.