Practical Approaches to Applied Research and Program Evaluation for Helping Professionals PDF Download

Author: Casey A. Barrio Minton
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351611542
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 280

View

Book Description
Practical Approaches to Applied Research and Program Evaluation for Helping Professionals is a comprehensive textbook that presents master’s-level counseling students with the skills and knowledge they need to successfully evaluate the effectiveness of mental health services and programs. Each chapter, aligned with 2016 Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards, guides counseling students through study design and evaluation fundamentals that will help them understand existing research and develop studies to best assess their own applied research questions. Readers will learn the basics of research concepts as applied to evaluative tasks, the art of matching evaluative methods to questions, specific considerations for practice-based evaluative tasks, and practical statistical options matched to practice-based tasks. Readers can also turn to the book’s companion website to access worksheets for practitioner and student planning exercises, spreadsheets with formulas for basic data analysis, a sample database, PowerPoint outlines , and discussion questions and activities aligned to each chapter.

Author: Albert N. Link
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 0857932403
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 425

View

Book Description
'The economic crisis has simultaneously placed a strong emphasis on the role of R&D as an engine of economic growth and a demand that limited public resources are demonstrated to have had the maximum possible impact. Rigorous evaluation is the key to meeting these needs. This Handbook brings together highly experienced leaders in the field to provide a comprehensive and well-organised state-of-the-art overview of the range of methods available. It will prove invaluable to experienced practitioners, students in the field and more widely to those who want to increase their understanding of the complex and pervasive ways in which technological advance contributes to economic and social progress.' – Luke Georghiou, University of Manchester, UK 'Theoretical and empirical research on program evaluation has advanced rapidly in scope and quality. A concomitant trend is increasing pressure on policymakers to show that programs are "effective". Now is the time for a comprehensive status report on state-of-the-art research and methods by leading scholars in a variety of disciplines on program evaluation. This outstanding collection of contributions will serve as a valuable reference tool for academics, policymakers, and practitioners for many years to come.' – Donald S. Siegel, University at Albany, SUNY, US There has been a dramatic increase in expenditures on public goods over the past thirty years, particularly in the area of research and development. As governments explore the many opportunities for growth in this area, they – and the general public – are becoming increasingly concerned with the transparency, accountability and performance of public programs. This pioneering Handbook offers a collection of critical essays on the theory and practice of program evaluation, written by some of the most well-known experts in the field. As this volume demonstrates, a wide variety of methodologies exist to evaluate particularly the objectives and outcomes of research and development programs. These include surveys, statistical and econometric estimations, patent analyses, bibliometrics, scientometrics, network analyses, case studies, and historical tracings. Contributors divide these and other methods and applications into four categories – economic, non-economic, hybrid and data-driven – in order to discuss the many factors that affect the utility of each technique and how that impacts the technological, economic and societal forecasts of the programs in question. Scholars, practitioners and students with an interest in economics and innovation will all find this Handbook an invaluable resource.

Author: Rick A. Houser
Publisher: SAGE Publications
ISBN: 1544305079
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 417

View

Book Description
Counseling and Educational Research: Evaluation and Application prepares readers to be good consumers and evaluators of research. Using concrete examples from published articles, author Rick A. Houser teaches students to take a systematic approach to evaluating professional literature critically and using it responsibly. The Fourth Edition covers evidence-based research, qualitative methods, program evaluation, and mixed methods; includes new discussions on how national accreditation standards in counseling (CACREP) and education (CAEP) apply to research; and examines how cultural influences can affect the research process.

Author: Donna M. Mertens
Publisher: Guilford Press
ISBN: 1462503241
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 642

View

Book Description
This engaging text takes an evenhanded approach to major theoretical paradigms in evaluation and builds a bridge from them to evaluation practice. Featuring helpful checklists, procedural steps, provocative questions that invite readers to explore their own theoretical assumptions, and practical exercises, the book provides concrete guidance for conducting large- and small-scale evaluations. Numerous sample studies—many with reflective commentary from the evaluators—reveal the process through which an evaluator incorporates a paradigm into an actual research project. The book shows how theory informs methodological choices (the specifics of planning, implementing, and using evaluations). It offers balanced coverage of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Useful pedagogical features include: *Examples of large- and small-scale evaluations from multiple disciplines. *Beginning-of-chapter reflection questions that set the stage for the material covered. *"Extending your thinking" questions and practical activities that help readers apply particular theoretical paradigms in their own evaluation projects. *Relevant Web links, including pathways to more details about sampling, data collection, and analysis. *Boxes offering a closer look at key evaluation concepts and additional studies. *Checklists for readers to determine if they have followed recommended practice. *A companion website with resources for further learning.

Author: Joshua C. Watson
Publisher: SAGE Publications
ISBN: 1483322165
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 585

View

Book Description
Designed to help students learn how to assess clients, conduct treatment planning, and evaluate client outcomes, this practical book addresses specific CACREP competencies. Incorporating case studies and examples, authors Joshua C. Watson and Brandé Flamez provide foundational knowledge for sound formal and informal assessments, cover ethical and legal considerations in assessment, describe basic statistical concepts, highlight the domains in which assessments are commonly used (intelligence, aptitude, achievement, personality, career, etc.), and provide strategies for integrating assessment data when working with clients. Counseling Assessment and Evaluation is part of the SAGE Counseling and Professional Identity Series, which targets specific competencies identified by CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs).

Author: Gerald A. Emison
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 0872893022
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 145

View

Book Description
Program evaluation requires attention to rationality, rigor, and careful methods. Yet precision and accuracy alone do not guarantee that program evaluations will be implemented. This text hones in on the applied side of program evaluation presenting program evaluations that are used and improve public enterprises.

Author: Paul J. Gertler
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 1464807809
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 444

View

Book Description
The second edition of the Impact Evaluation in Practice handbook is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to impact evaluation for policy makers and development practitioners. First published in 2011, it has been used widely across the development and academic communities. The book incorporates real-world examples to present practical guidelines for designing and implementing impact evaluations. Readers will gain an understanding of impact evaluations and the best ways to use them to design evidence-based policies and programs. The updated version covers the newest techniques for evaluating programs and includes state-of-the-art implementation advice, as well as an expanded set of examples and case studies that draw on recent development challenges. It also includes new material on research ethics and partnerships to conduct impact evaluation. The handbook is divided into four sections: Part One discusses what to evaluate and why; Part Two presents the main impact evaluation methods; Part Three addresses how to manage impact evaluations; Part Four reviews impact evaluation sampling and data collection. Case studies illustrate different applications of impact evaluations. The book links to complementary instructional material available online, including an applied case as well as questions and answers. The updated second edition will be a valuable resource for the international development community, universities, and policy makers looking to build better evidence around what works in development.

Author: Huey-tsyh Chen
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 9780761902331
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 308

View

Book Description
Concentrates on the steps vital to program evaluation, including systematically identifying stakeholder needs, selecting evaluation options best suited to particular needs, and turning decisions into action.

Author: Marc A. Zimmerman
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 1412967759
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 185

View

Book Description
This book guides evaluators in planning a comprehensive, yet practical, program evaluation—from start to design—within any context, in an accessible manner.

Author: Stewart I. Donaldson
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 1412957079
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 289

View

Book Description
"What Counts as Credible Evidence in Applied Research and Evaluation Practice? is the first book of its kind to define and place into greater perspective the meaning of evidence for evaluation professionals and applied researchers. Editors Stewart I. Donaldson, Christina A. Christie, and Melvin M. Mark provide observations about the diversity and changing nature of credible evidence, include lessons from their own applied research and evaluation practice, and suggest ways in which practitioners might address the key issues and challenges of collecting credible evidence." "This book is appropriate for a wide range of courses, including Introduction to Evaluation Research, Research Methods, Evaluation Practice, Program Evaluation, Program Development and Evaluation, and evaluation courses in Social Work, Education, Public Health, and Public Policy."--BOOK JACKET.