Office for Evaluation and Needs Assessment Services
Center for Research and Evaluation in the Social Sciences
We advance knowledge and impact through the principles of implementation science and collaborative evaluation.
Our office conducts program evaluation and needs assessment research primarily for public and private non-profit agencies and organizations. The Office provides continuing education and training, technical assistance and consultation, and opportunities to work with a multidisciplinary team on evaluating complex, multi-site projects and programs.
Affiliated Faculty and Staff:
Genevieve Manset
Affiliated Initiatives and Labs:
Professional and Experienced Staff
Faculty from diverse disciplines with extensive experience in program evaluation and applied research
Experienced and professional support staff provide timely and responsive administrative support
Graduate students experienced in research design, including sampling and survey methods, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, proposal and report writing, and other research-related support (supervised by faculty)
Services
Evaluation and needs assessment services for public and private non-profit programs with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in edcuation.
Continuing Education and Training tailored to meet the needs of professionals.
Technical Assistance and Consultation to service providers and principal investigators on research techniques and strategies, assistance in grant writing, budget formulation, project implementation, and the application of research findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is program evaluation?
Program evaluation is the systematic investigation of the worth or merit of a program, project, or process. It is often undertaken to demonstrate the effectiveness of a program or to improve upon its delivery as it is being implemented. Ideally, evaluation is a collaborative process in which evaluators work closely with program staff to plan and implement an evaluation that is responsive to the needs of the program.
2) How does the investigation take place?
The investigation can include activities such as observing, surveying, interviewing, testing, experimenting, measuring, or analyzing information from people or existing documents. The information is then written up in a report from the evaluator to the client. Two types of evaluation are commonly discussed: formative and summative.
Formative Evaluation (also referred to as Process Evaluation): Investigates processes, program development, or program implementation. Results from the formative evaluation are shared early on or throughout the execution of the program, and are typically used to make changes in how the program is structured or carried out.
Summative Evaluation (also referred to as Outcome or Impact Evaluation): Investigates the final effectiveness, outcome, results, or impacts of a program.
3) How much does it cost to do an evaluation?
Evaluation need not be costly, but should be adequately funded in order to address the questions that decision-makers are interested in. Although fees can be and are often negotiated, it is recommended that 5-15% of the program budget be devoted to evaluation. Most of these costs are in personnel, since it does require experienced professionals to effectively plan, execute and report on the results of the investigation.
4) How do we find an evaluator?
There is a professional association of evaluators in Hawai'i called the Hawai'i-Pacific Evaluation Association (H-PEA Members). A short description of your evaluation needs can be sent to the entire listserv (see the H-PEA website for information on how to do this). For additional referrals, feel free to call or email us at the contact information provided on this website. The national American Evaluation Association also maintains a list of evaluators from all states, including Hawai'i.
5) At what point should I contact an evaluator if my program requires an evaluation?
We strongly advise that you contact and include an evaluator in the initial stages of program planning or proposal development. The evaluator can provide sound advice and recommendations on how the proposal is crafted, and/or how the program should be executed. Nevertheless, many evaluators will do their best to work with you and your program even if the time period is limited.
Recent Work