Background to Program Evaluation
Origins of Program Evaluation Fairly recent in origin Becoming more evident in Canada Professional
Evolution of PE 1900 - 30 Age of efficiency and testing. Evaluation and measurement treated similarly. 1930 - 45 Age of Tyler. Ralph Tyler basic principles of curriculum and development. First to connect objectives and outcomes. What should schools seek to attain?
Evolution of PE 1946 - 1957 Age of Innocence. More emphasis on progress not effectiveness 1957 Sputnik Panic. What is wrong with education? 1958 - 1972 Age of expansion. Development of major theories. 1973 - present Age of professionalism. Creation of major professional organizations
Stake - Countenance model Need for formalized evaluation Not just anecdotal but descriptive data is necessary Must include description and judgement Includes intents, and observations, which are compared to standards then a judgement is made.
Stake - Countenance model Is there congruence between what is intended and what is observed? Contingency - What is the relationship between the variables? Is there a logical connection between an event and its purpose?
Stufflebeam - CIPP Based on making decisions Based on Robert Tyler’s model of objectives and outcomes. Made this approach more systematic
Stufflebeam - CIPP C - Context I - Input P - Process P - Product
Provus - Discrepancy Improve existing models Establish new and better programs Greater accountability of educators to the public Wiser decisions by administrators Each step of a program is compared to what it should be
Provus D - Design content I - Installation P - Process P - Product C - May include cost-benefit analysis
Scriven Simple approach to evaluation Goals versus roles Goals - outcomes of the program. Reason for a program. Really need to study the goals of a program Roles - the political dimension of the evaluation. Underlying motivation
Scriven - Summative and Formative Formative - gives feedback during the delivery of a program for immediate or future modification. Summative - Evaluation at the end of a program to see if it has been effective or has met its original goals.
Scriven - Goal-free Instead of using existing staff Evaluation can be formative of summative Outside evaluator is not made aware of program goals Eliminates “tunnel vision” Evaluator determines own path through the process.
Levine - Adversary Quasi-judicial Involves two or more teams of evaluators Evaluation takes up positive and negative opposing viewpoints Very thorough look at both sides of a decision Expensive
Rippey - Transactional Involves all those impacted by an issue Does not begin with a particular focus Usually begins with some form of unrest or the initial stages of a potentially damaging situation Converts conflict into productive activity and goals Similar to appreciative inquiry in many ways
Rippey - Transactional Initial phase - meeting with all stakeholders to determine issues Instrumentation - collectively uncovering the issues for the conflict and creating an instrument to gauge responses to the perceived issues. Program development - creation of ways to manage the issues Program monitoring - assumption of responsibilities for ensuring program success Recycling - feedback on all of the first four stages