Evaluation Theories

Completion status: this resource is ~25% complete.

Introduction

This course will be primarily based on students notes taken at 'PSYCH 315z – Comparative Evaluation Theory' in Claremont Graduate University, and publicly available documents from 'EVAL 6000: Foundations of Evaluation' at Western Michigan University.

Week 1 has an overview of the current state of evaluation that extends into Week 2 with Weeks 2-

Outline:

Weeks 1-2 In the first week we read William Shadish's 1998 presidential address to the American Evaluation Association (AEA), and the first chapter in Shadish, Cook, & Leviton's "Foundations of Program Evaluation: Theories of Practice". Weaknesses: See Discussion

1. William Shadish's "Evaluation theory is who we are" (Article; 19 pages, 11,417 words)
2. "Foundations of Program Evaluation: Theories of Practice", (Textbook; 17p,
3. Introduction: Comparing evaluation points of view (Shadish, Cook, & Leviton's, 1991)

In the second week, we go through the first four chapters of Alkin's "Evaluation Roots" CH. 1 (Introduction) and Ch.2 "An evaluation theory tree," Ch. 3: "Michael S. Scriven: The science of valuing." and Foundations of Program Evaluation, Ch. 2: "Good theory for social program evaluation."

In the third week read Foundations of Program Evaluation Ch. 2, Ch. 7, and Ch. 8:

1. Chapter 4: "Donald T. Campbell: Methodologist of the experimenting society." (Moved from wk.
2. Ch. 7: Robert E. Stake: Responsive evaluation and qualitative methods.
3. Ch. 8: Lee J. Cronbach: Functional evaluation design for a world of political accommodation.

• Week 4: Independent study on Michael Scriven, Thomas Cook, Jennifer C. Greene, David Fetterman,
• Week 5: Independent study on Patton, Cronbach, Chen, Guba & Lincoln
• Week 6: Independent study on Preskill, Greene, Guba & Lincoln, House

In the third week

Week by Week Class Notes

• Week 1: Historical Context of Evaluation and the Role of Theory in Evaluation – Pre-Class Notes on Wk. 1
  • Taxonomies of Evaluation Theory
  • Why Evaluation Theory is Who We Are - William Shaddish's 1998 message to the American Evaluation Association
• Week 2: Overview of Evaluation Theory and the Evaluation Theory Tree – Pre-Class Notes Wk. 2
  • The Context & History of Social Program Evaluation
• Week 3: Evaluation Theory Components
• Evaluation Theory Panels: (See the 12 Theorist Cheat Sheet)
  • Week 4: Evaluation Theory Panel: Michael Scriven, Thomas Cook, Jennifer C. Greene, David Fetterman,
  • Week 5: Evaluation Theory Panel: Patton, Cronbach, Chen, Guba & Lincoln
  • Week 6: Evaluation Theory Panel: Preskill, Greene, Guba & Lincoln, House
• Weeks 7: Evaluation Across Disciplines (Guest speakers)
• Week 8: Midterm
• Week 9: Break.
• Week 10: Connecting Theory to Practice: The Bunche-Da Vinci Case
  • Week 10: Greene, Henry, Donaldson, King Comparison - four program evaluation theorists give their hands-on account of how they would design and plan an evaluation of an educational program.
• Week 11: Contingency Theories of Evaluation
  • Pre-Class Notes Wk. 11
• Week 12: Connecting Theory to Practice: Politics and Interpersonal Relationships:
  • Week 12: Politics in Evaluation – Pre-Class notes Wk. 12
• Week 13: 4/16/14: Connecting Theory to Practice: Context, Culture and Ethics (TA Led)
• Week 14: 4/23/14: Evaluation Theory Development and Research on Evaluation, Guest Speaker: John LaVelle
• Week 15: 4/30/14: Credible Evidence in Evaluation and Professional Issues
  • Week 15: Credible Evidence

Educational level: this is a tertiary (university) resource.

Type classification: this resource is a course.

Completion status: Been started, but most of the work is still to be done.