STEP 7 - Standards for Program Evaluation
My program evaluation will follow the Standards for Program Evaluation, which include: Utility standards, Propriety standards, Feasibility standards, and Accuracy standards.
Utility Standards: (to ensure that an evaluation will serve the information needs of intended users (Evaluation Standards))
The evaluation will identify relevant stakeholders.
Participation in the evaluation will be voluntary.
A broad selection of information (both qualitative and quantitative) will be collected to ensure sufficient data is available to answer key evaluation questions.
Evaluation is designed to have a high impact on the program's efficiency, quality and growth.
Propriety Standards: (to ensure that an evaluation will be conducted legally, ethically, and with due regard for the welfare of those involved in the evaluation, as well as those affected by its results (Evaluation Standards))
Participants under 18 years of age will only be surveyed or interviewed with written permission from caregivers.
Survey participants will provide agreement for the data to be used in the program evaluation, and any quotes/impact statements will have names redacted to respect privacy.
The evaluation will be conducted legally, ethically, and with respect for the welfare of participants.
All participants in the program will have access to the evaluation's findings to help prevent biases.
Feasibility Standards: (to ensure that an evaluation will be realistic, prudent, diplomatic, and frugal (Evaluation Standards))
The evaluation will be realistic and practical to avoid disruption. Program data will be examined first to eliminate redundancy in data collection.
The evaluation will be prudent and diplomatic, with an awareness of biases and a focus on objectivity.
Data collection methods (including online surveys and limited in-person interviews) have been chosen to limit costs and disruption.
Accuracy Standards: (to ensure that an evaluation will be conducted legally, ethically, and with due regard for the welfare of those involved in the evaluation, as well as those affected by its results (Evaluation Standards))
The evaluation will be based on key questions designed to enhance the program's effectiveness. These can be seen in the program theory and logic model.
Data will be collated and analyzed to ensure accuracy.
Conclusions and recommendations will be based on and justified by data collected.
Personal feelings and biases will not impact conclusions made, and any conflicts of interest or potential biases will be disclosed.
Admission of weaknesses in certain data collection methods (eg, purposive sampling, etc.) will be admitted.
References:
The Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation, James R. Sanders, Chair (ed.): The Program evaluation Standards, 2nd edition. Sage Publication, Thousand Oaks, USA, p.23-24; 63; 81-82,125-126 (see www.wmich.edu/evalctr/jc/)