Drafting a Process Evaluation

Drafting a Process Evaluation

The steps for process evaluation outlined by Bliss and Emshoff (2002) may seem very similar to those for conducting other types of evaluation that you have learned about in this course; in fact, it is the purpose and timing of a process evaluation that most distinguish it from other types of evaluation. A process evaluation is conducted during the implementation of the program to evaluate whether the program has been implemented as intended and how the delivery of a program can be improved. A process evaluation can also be useful in supporting an outcome evaluation by helping to determine the reason behind program outcomes.

There are several reasons for conducting process evaluation throughout the implementation of a program. Chief among them is to compare the program that is being delivered to the original program plan, in order to identify gaps and make improvements. Therefore, documentation from the planning stage may prove useful when planning a process evaluation.

Required Readings

1. Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do. (2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.

·  Chapter 8, “Improving How Programs and Practice Work” (pp. 167–207)Attached Document

2. Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader]. Attached Document

Read the following section: “Social Work Research: Qualitative Groups” (pp. 68–69)

3. Becker, L. A. (1999). Statistical and clinical significance. Retrieved from https://www.uccs.edu/lbecker/clinsig 

4. Man-Son-Hing, M., Laupacis, A., O’Rourke, K., Molnar, F. J., Mahon, J., Chan, K. B., & Wells, G. (2002). Determination of the clinical importance of study results. Journal of general internal medicine, 17(6), 469-476.   Attached Document

5. Document: Bliss, M. J., & Emshoff, J. G. (2002). Workbook for designing a process evaluation. Retrieved from http://beta.roadsafetyevaluation.com/evaluationguides/info/workbook-for-designing-a-process-evaluation.pdf (PDF) Attached Document

For this Assignment, choose a program  in which you are familiar with that is related to a support group for caregivers. Review the resource “Workbook for Designing a Process Evaluation”.

Assignment

Submit a 4- to 5-page plan for a process evaluation. Include the following minimal information:

· A description of the key program elements

· A description of the strategies that the program uses to produce change

· A description of the needs of the target population

· An explanation of why a process evaluation is important for the program

· A plan for building relationships with the staff and management

· Broad questions to be answered by the process evaluation

· Specific questions to be answered by the process evaluation

· A plan for gathering and analyzing the information

NOTE:  include a description of how you might conduct a follow-up to the needs assessment as well as a specific a time frame. In other words, the frequency and tool you might use. 30-60-90-days, phone call, survey or interview.

APA format with intext Citations and References from Required Reading