Evaluating Human Services A Practical Approach for the Human Service Professional

by York, Reginald O.

• ISBN13: 9780205503469
• ISBN10: 0205503462
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-26
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Evaluating Human Services: A Practical Approach for the Human Service Professional, enables students to learn the skills of evaluation through practical application and analysis - from the simple to the complex. It is designed to equip the front-line human service practitioner with the ability to evaluate services in a practical step-by-step format. For, it covers both quantitative and qualitative research methods, includes all the essential concepts enumerated in social work accreditation standards, and addresses cultural competence in regard to research. In addition, while the process of evaluation research remains the book's focus, all essential concepts of research are included - and remain centered on competencies, rather than broad-based abstractions. Therefore, the model of this text is both developmental and experiential. Not only does it provide a clear progression from simple to more complex concepts and tasks, it also calls upon the learner to apply their research.

Author Biography

Dr. Reginald O. York is professor and Chair in the Department of Social Work, University of North Carolina Wilmington.  The author of two other books on research, one book on planning, and more than 30 journal articles, Reggie York has an extensive record of teaching research courses and consulting with human service agencies about evaluation.  The content of his books on research have emanated from his teaching experience where he is dedicated to the constatnt testing of all ideas and exercises. 

Table of Contents

Evaluation Research and Scientific Inquiry

The Nature of Scientific Research

The Nature of Scientific Inquiry [1.A]

An Examination of Some Common Sense Principles [1.B]

Evaluation Research Uses a Process of Discovery, Not Justification. [1.B.1]

Don't Re-invent the Wheel! [1.B.2]

Don't Put the Cart Before the Horse! [1.B.3]

Two Heads are Better than One! [1.B.4]

Some Things Happen Just by Chance! [1.B.5]

When We Wear the Research Hat

We must be Very Cautious in Our Conclusions. [1.B.6]

Applying the Basic Principles--Does the Full Moon Make People Act Different? [1.C]

Studies on the effect of the full moon [1.C.1]

Ethics in Social Research [1.D]

Four Purposes of Research [1.E]

How are different types of research similar? [1.F]

Two Processes of Scientific Inquiry--Deductive and Inductive [1.G]

Two Forms of Information-Quantitative and Qualitative [1.H]

Four Methods of Gathering Information: Surveys, Interviews, Direct Observation, and Documents [1.I]

Scientific Research and Cultural Competence. [1.J]

Summary

Quiz

Conducting a Study to Illustrate Common Sense Principles of Science

A Brief Review of Research Ethics before We Begin Our Study [2.A]

Our Initial Steps in the Study [2.B]

Let's make sure we are not re-inventing the wheel. [2.B.2]

Let's make sure we are using a process of discovery, not justification. [2.B.3]

Are we putting the cart before the horse? [2.B.4]

The Next Steps in Our Study Process [2.C]

Calculating the Number of Your Soul Urge [2.C.1]

Taking into Consideration that Some Things Happen Just by Chance. [2.C.2]

We're wearing the research hat, so let's be sure we are cautious in our conclusions. [2.C.3]

Quiz

An Overview of Evaluation Research

What is Evaluation? [3.A]

Key Questions in Evaluation [3.B]

How well are our services reaching the target population? [3.B.1]

Are clients satisfied? [3.B.2]

Have our clients experienced growth? [3.B.3]

Did the service cause the client growth? [3.B.4]

The Scope of Evaluation Research [3.C]

The Nature of Program Evaluation Research [3.C.1]

The Nature of Clinical Evaluation Research [3.C.2]

Types of Evaluation [3.D]

The Evaluation of Need [3.D.1]

The Evaluation of Service Process [3.D.2]

The Evaluation of Efficiency [3.D.3]

The Evaluation of Outcome [3.D.4]

The Evaluation of Client Satisfaction [3.D.5]

Using Client Surveys to Assess Outcome Retrospectively [3.D.6]

Selected Models of Evaluation [3.E]

The Experiment [3.E.1]

The Case Study Method [3.E.2]

Utilization-focused Evaluation [3.E.3]

Summary

Quiz

Preliminary Exercises in the Evaluation of Human Services

Exercise A: Using NGT to Evaluate Client Need

The NGT Process

Advantages and Limitations of NGT

Step-by-Step Procedures for Using Nominal Group Technique (NGT)

Determining Whether to Use NGT

Preparing for the NGT Meeting

Convening the Meeting and Introducing the NGT Process

The Silent Generation of Ideas in Writing

The Roundrobin Recording of Ideas

Serial Discussion for Clarification

Preliminary Vote on Item Importance

Discussion of the Preliminary Vote

Final Vote

Forms to be used with the NGT procedures

Exercise B: Preliminary Examination of Service Process

Identifying the Program and Client Needs

Assessing Service Process

Exercise C: Preliminary Design of an Outcome Study

Task #1: Identifying the target behavior

Task #2: Identifying the Interve

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.