EVAL 6970:Cost Analysis for Evaluation Dr. Chris L. S. Coryn Nick Saxton Fall 2014

Agenda Course overview Introductions Questions and discussion Activity

Course Description This course is an advanced graduate seminar designed to provide an overview of cost analysis in evaluation, including concepts and definitions, analytical frameworks, measurement of cost, placing monetary value on program ingredients, analyzing costs, cost- effectiveness analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and cost-utility analysis.

Course Description Cost analysis comprises one component within comprehensive evaluations and asks, in comparison to other alternatives, Is the program worth what it costs? Is it cost-effective? Do the benefits justify the costs of the program? Does the value or utility of the program justify its costs? This course is designed to provide an overview of different cost analysis methods for use in evaluation.

Course Website The website for this course is located at courses/eval-6970-cost-analysis-for- evaluation/ From this site you can access – The course syllabus – Required readings – Weekly lecture notes

Required Textbook

Learning Objectives 1.A clear understanding of the importance of cost analysis in conducting high quality, comprehensive evaluations 2.A clear understanding of why costs should not be ignored in conducting evaluations 3.A clear understanding of how cost analysis can help in ‘valuing’ programs and other types of evaluands 4.A clear understanding of the concept and measurement of costs

Learning Objectives 5.A clear understanding of methods for placing value on various cost ‘ingredients’ in analysis of costs 6.An ability to design and conduct basic cost-effectiveness analyses 7.An ability to design and conduct basic cost-benefit analyses 8.An ability to design and conduct basic cost-utility analyses 9.A clear understanding of appropriate (and inappropriate) uses of cost analysis in the context of evaluation

Secondary Learning Objectives 1.Conveying constructive criticism in a professional, balanced, and tactful manner 2.Facilitating discussion to engage others in dialogue about evaluation theory, method, and practice 3.Writing clearly and concisely for both academic and non-academic audiences 4.Giving high quality, professional oral presentations for both academic and non-academic audiences

Course Components Attendance & class participation 5% Chapter exercises 50% Application paper presentation 15% Application paper 30%

A Note on Course Assignments All course assignments are due by 5:00 PM on the date indicated in the course schedule All assignments should be ed to the instructor and teaching assistant with “EVAL 6970” in the subject line NO late assignments will be accepted, will not be graded, and will be assigned a grade of “0” (“F”)

Schedule of Topics Introduction to cost analysis Establishing an analytic framework The concept and measurement of costs Placing value on ingredients Analyzing costs Cost-effectiveness analysis Cost-benefit analysis Cost-utility analysis The use of cost analysis

Course Structure If necessary, a question-and-answer session for prior week’s material Lecture Discussion Activity

Who Are You? Why are you here? What do you expect to learn? What prior experiences do you have with evaluation? Research? Design? Measurement? Statistics (or analysis in general)?

Who Are We?

An abbreviated life history… that has significantly influenced my world view and evaluation practice

“…bad is bad and good is good and it is the job of evaluators to decide which is which” — Scriven Major Influence on My Thinking About Evaluation

Other Influences Davidson Cook Shadish Patton Cronbach Stufflebeam Chelimsky Hattie

Most Profound Influence on My Evaluation Practice

Who Are We?

An abbreviated life history… that significantly influenced my world view and evaluation practice

Major Influence on My Thinking About Evaluation “A system of morality […] based on relative emotional values is […] a thoroughly vulgar conception, which has nothing sound in it and nothing true” — Socrates

Other Influences KantLeibnizDescartes BaconAristotleJefferson ScrivenCoryn Batman

Activity WMU is currently in the process of conducting an “academic program review” – Programs will likely be terminated, restructured, or combined – Should cost analysis be used, or not used, in this process? In small groups, take one position or the other (to use or not use cost analysis) and support your position with at least three reasons for using or not using cost analysis in this context