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Small-Scale Evaluation
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Small-Scale Evaluation
Principles and Practice

Second Edition


September 2017 | 232 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Evaluation research can assess the value and effectiveness of interventions and innovations involving people. While this has often been on a grand scale, this book focuses on small-scale projects carried out by an individual or small group, typically lasting for weeks or at most a few months, at a local rather than national level. Using limited jargon and featuring integrated, real-world examples, this second edition offers a clear, accessible background to evaluation and prepares you to undertake your own small-scale evaluation research project.

Key features include discussion of:

  • Different approaches to evaluation and how to choose between them
  • The advantages and disadvantages of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
  • Realist evaluation and its increasing importance
  • The centrality of ethical and political issues
  • The influence and opportunity of the Internet
     

Tightly focused on the realities of carrying out small-scale evaluation, Small-Scale Evaluation is a highly practical guide covering the needs of both social scientists and others without this background.

Colin Robson is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Human & Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield.

 
 
Chapter 1: Introduction
Who is the book for?

 
What do you need to be able to carry out an evaluation?

 
Evaluation research

 
Small-scale evaluation research

 
The literature search

 
The Internet

 
Using the book

 
A note on 'Tasks'

 
 
Chapter 2: Evaluation: The What and the Why
What is evaluation?

 
Why evaluate?

 
Evaluation and social research

 
What do they think they want?

 
What are they going to find credible?

 
 
Chapter 3: The Advantages of Collaboration
Stakeholders

 
Other models of involvement

 
Using consultants

 
Persuading others to be involved

 
When is some form of participatory evaluation indicated?

 
 
Chapter 4: Evaluation Designs
Different approaches to evaluation

 
Needs assessment

 
Outcome evaluation

 
Process evaluation

 
Combining process and outcome approaches

 
Formative and summative evaluation

 
Efficiency evaluation

 
Reviews

 
Program monitoring

 
Theory-based evaluation

 
An interim summing up

 
 
Chapter 5: Designing Your Evaluation
Reviewing the 'literature'

 
Research questions

 
Methods of data collection

 
Data quality

 
Sampling

 
Prespecified and emergent designs

 
Doing a shoe-string evaluation

 
 
Chapter 6: Ethical and Political Considerations
Ethical issues

 
The problem of unintended consequences

 
Evaluations involving children and other vulnerable populations

 
Ethical issues in online research

 
Ethical boards and committees

 
The politics of evaluation

 
 
Chapter 7: Practicalities
Time budgeting

 
Gaining access

 
Getting organized

 
Getting help and support

 
 
Chapter 8: Dealing with the Data
Coding data

 
Analysis and interpretation of quantitative data

 
Analysis and interpretation of qualitative data

 
 
Chapter 9: Communicating the Findings
Evaluation reports

 
Facilitating the implementation of evaluation findings

 
 
Chapter 10: Taking it further
Further reading

 
Postscript

 
 
Appendix A: Chapter Tasks
 
Appendix B: Simple Evaluations

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 2: Evaluation: The What and the Why


For instructors

Please contact your Academic Consultant to check inspection copy availability for your course.

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