Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation, 3rd Edition

by Joseph S. Wholey (University of Southern California); Harry P. Hatry (The Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.); Kathryn E. Newcomer (George Washington University)

• ISBN13: 9780470873403
• ISBN10: 047087340X
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2010-11-01
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

Praise for the third edition of the Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation"Mix three of the most highly regarded evaluators with a team of talented contributors, and you end up with an exceedingly practical and useful handbook that belongs on the reference shelf of every evaluator as well as program and policy officials." -Jonathan D. Breul, executive director, IBM Center for The Business of Government"Joe Wholey and his colleagues have done it again-a remarkably comprehensive, thoughtful, and interesting guide to the evaluation process and its context that should be useful to sponsors, users, and practitioners alike." -Eleanor Chelimsky, former U.S. Assistant Comptroller General for Program Evaluation and Methodology"Students and practitioners of public policy and administration are fortunate that the leading scholars on evaluation have updated their outstanding book. This third edition of the Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation will prove once again to be an invaluable resource in the classroom and on the front lines for a public service under increasing pressure to do more with less."-Paul L. Posner, director, public administration, George Mason University, and immediate former president, the American Society of Public Administration"The third edition of the Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation reflects the evolving nature of the field, while maintaining its value as a guide to the foundational skills needed for evaluation." -Leslie J. Cooksy, current president, the American Evaluation Association"This third edition is even more of a must-have book than its earlier incarnations-for academics to give their students a comprehensive overview of the field, for practitioners to use as a reference to the best minds on each topic, and for evaluation funders and consumers to learn what is possible and what they should expect. I've been in evaluation for 35 years, and I used the first and second editions all the time."-Michael Hendricks, Ph.D., independent evaluation consultant

Table of Contents

Figures, Tables, and Exhibits

Preface

The Editors

The Contributors

Evaluation Planning and Design

Planning and Designing Useful Evaluations

Analyzing and Engaging Stakeholders

Using Logic Models

Exploratory Evaluation

Performance Measurement: Monitoring Program Outcomes

Comparison Group Designs

Randomized Controlled Trials and Nonrandomized Designs

Conducting Case Studies

Recruitment and Retention of Study Participants

Designing, Managing, and Analyzing Multisite Evaluations

Practical Data Collection Procedures

Using Agency Records

Using Surveys

Using Trained Observer Ratings

Collecting Data in the Field

Using the Internet

Conducting Semi-Structured Interviews

Focus Group Interviewing

Using Stories in Evaluation

Data Analysis

Qualitative Data Analysis

Using Statistics in Evaluation

Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analysis

Meta-Analyses, Systematic Reviews, and Evaluation Syntheses

Use of Evaluation

Pitfalls in Evaluation

Providing Recommendations, Suggestions, and Options for Improvement

Writing for Impact

Contracting for Evaluation Products and Services

Use of Evaluation in Government: The Politics of Evaluation

Evaluation Challenges, Issues, and Trends

Name Index

Subject Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.