Evaluation Practice : Thinking and Action Principles for Social Work Practice

by DePoy, Elizabeth; Gilson, Stephen French

• ISBN13: 9780534543914
• ISBN10: 053454391X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-09
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

This text presents both the quantitative and qualitative methods and focuses on teaching students how to skillfully apply the full range of research designs, methods and strategies to evaluation of social work in all domains of social work practice. The book provides a framework for the integration of systematic inquiry with practice that can be used by all social workers. The authors have created a model called, evaluation practice that provides the evidence-based structure within which diverse social work theories and skills can be organized, examined and verified.

Table of Contents

PART 1 BEGINNINGS	1	(42)
Introduction to Evaluation Practice	3	(14)
Definition and Scope	4	(2)
History	6	(7)
Political Context of Evaluation	13	(1)
Theoretical and Value-Based Foundation of Evaluation Practice	14	(1)
Main Points	15	(1)
Exercises	16	(1)
The Conceptual Framework of Evaluation Practice	17	(14)
Overview of the Model	18	(1)
Principles and Assumptions	19	(6)
Deductive Reasoning	25	(1)
Inductive Reasoning	26	(4)
Main Points	30	(1)
Exercises	30	(1)
Roles and Responsibilities of Social Workers in Evaluation Practice	31	(12)
Managing People	32	(1)
Analytic Axes	32	(8)
Evaluation Practice Ethics	40	(1)
Main Points	41	(1)
Exercises	42	(1)
PART 2 THINKING PROCESSES OF EVALUATION PRACTICE	43	(96)
Identifying Social Work Problems and Issues	45	(13)
Definitions	46	(2)
Thinking Processes in Articulating Social Problems	48	(1)
Problem Mapping and Force Field Analysis	49	(8)
Main Points	57	(1)
Exercises	57	(1)
Obtaining and Organizing Information	58	(16)
Diverse Purposes of Information in Evaluation Practice	59	(2)
When to Review Information in Evaluation	61	(2)
Mechanics of Information Review	63	(9)
Main Points	72	(1)
Exercises	73	(1)
Ascertaining Need	74	(11)
Distinction Between Problem and Need	75	(3)
Choosing Needs Assessment Action Strategies	78	(5)
Main Points	83	(1)
Exercises	84	(1)
Examining Need with Previously Supported Approaches: Designing Experimental-Type Inquiry	85	(12)
Using Experimental-Type Design in Needs Assessment	86	(1)
True Experimental Design	87	(4)
Nonexperimental Designs	91	(2)
Thinking Process of Experimental-Type Design Selection in Needs Assessment	93	(3)
Main Points	96	(1)
Exercises	96	(1)
Obtaining Information in Experimental-Type Needs Assessment	97	(15)
Introduction to Measurement	98	(3)
Instrumentation Structures That Are Useful in Experimental-Type Needs Assessment	101	(9)
Main Points	110	(1)
Exercises	110	(2)
Ascertaining Need in Unexamined Contexts: Designing Qualitative Inquiry	112	(15)
Underlying Tenets of Naturalistic Inquiry	113	(10)
Selecting a Design in Naturalistic Needs Assessment	123	(1)
Mixed-Method Designs	124	(1)
Main Points	125	(1)
Exercises	126	(1)
Setting Goals and Objectives	127	(12)
Introduction and Definitions	128	(1)
Objectives	129	(5)
Deriving Goals from Need Statements	134	(1)
Action Process of Writing Process Objectives	135	(1)
Action Process of Writing Outcome Objectives	136	(1)
Main Points	137	(1)
Exercises	138	(1)
PART 3 REFLEXIVE INTERVENTION	139	(38)
Intervention Selection and Reflexive Intervention	141	(9)
Translating Goals and Objectives into Interventions	142	(1)
Selection of an Intervention Approach	143	(4)
Reflexive Intervention	147	(1)
Main Points	148	(1)
Exercises	149	(1)
Thinking Processes of Reflexive Intervention	150	(12)
Elements of Reflexive Intervention	152	(8)
Main Points	160	(1)
Exercises	161	(1)
Action Processes of Reflexive Intervention	162	(15)
Introduction to Design Selection in Reflexive Intervention	163	(1)
Experimental-Type Process Assessment Designs	163	(4)
Naturalistic Inquiry	167	(5)
Mixed-Method Design	172	(1)
Process Assessment Questions Posed by Diverse Groups	172	(1)
Selecting a Method-Guiding Questions	173	(2)
Main Points	175	(1)
Exercises	175	(2)
PART 4 ASSESSING OUTCOMES	177	(32)
Thinking Processes in Outcome Assessment	179	(8)
Introduction: Outcome Assessment as One Step in Evaluation Practice	180	(1)
Definitions	180	(1)
Essential Elements of Outcome Assessment	181	(3)
Main Points	184	(2)
Exercises	186	(1)
Action Processes of Outcome Research: Looking at Group Outcome	187	(11)
Four Steps of Outcome Assessment	188	(1)
True Experimental Design in Outcome Assessment	188	(1)
Using Nonexperimental to Quasi-Experimental Approaches in Outcome Assessment	189	(5)
Alternative Strategies to Attribute Outcome to Intervention	194	(2)
Main Points	196	(1)
Exercises	196	(2)
Outcome Assessment Using Idiographic Designs	198	(11)
Definition of Idiographic Designs	199	(1)
Three Idiographic Design Types	199	(8)
Main Points	207	(1)
Exercises	207	(2)
PART 5 CONCLUSION	209	(24)
Sharing Evaluation Practice Knowledge	211	(11)
Reporting and Using Knowledge	212	(1)
Evidence	212	(2)
Questions to Guide the Selection of a Reporting Format and Strategy	214	(2)
Structures	216	(4)
Use of Evaluation Practice Knowledge	220	(1)
Main Points	221	(1)
Exercises	221	(1)
Conclusions	222	(11)
Continuous Process of Evaluation Practice	223	(1)
Joshua	223	(1)
Individual Problem	224	(2)
Systemic Problem Identified by Joshua	226	(1)
Jennifer	227	(1)
Systemic Problem	228	(3)
Evaluation Practice: Upholding the Social Work Commitment	231	(1)
Go For It!	232	(1)
APPENDIX	233	(8)
Data Analysis	233	(1)
Level 1: Descriptive Statistics	234	(3)
Level 2: Drawing Inferences	237	(2)
Level 3: Associations and Relationships	239	(1)
Naturalistic Data Analysis	239	(2)
Glossary	241	(6)
Bibliography	247	(4)
Index	251