Evaluation Essentials: Methods For Conducting Sound Research

Designed as a guide for new evaluators as well as for students, this provides insights on data gathering, analysis, and efficient operating procedures. Daponte (research, Institution for Social and Policy Studies and management, Yale U.) shows how to develop evaluation questions, describe programs using program theory and program logic models, understand causation, use quasi-experimental design and create meaningful outcome measures, She pays careful attention to the art of describing the program as a living thing, laying the groundwork, determining causation, testing for validity, attributing outcomes to the program, collecting data and developing conclusions, and provides an example of a comprehensive survey. Her illustrations are particularly clear and helpful without being obtrusive, and she also provides study and interpretive questions suitable for individual or classroom study. Jossey-Bass is an imprint of Wiley. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Beth Osborne Daponte, Ph.D., is a senior research scholar at the Institution for Social and Policy Studies and lecturer in the School of Management at Yale University. Currently, she is also working with a large community foundation, helping it address its evaluation challenges at both the organizational and programmatic levels.