| Evaluation: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Guiding, and Improving Public and Nonprofit Policies and Programs Contributor(s): Mark, Melvin M. (Author), Henry, Gary T. (Author), Julnes, George (Author) |
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ISBN: 0787948020 ISBN-13: 9780787948023 Publisher: Jossey-Bass OUR PRICE: $59.85 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: September 2000 Annotation: Programs that serve the needs of the public continually face changes brought by social, political, and economic forces. To survive these changes, organizations must evaluate their programs wisely and realistically. This book offers a new approach to evaluation, one that will encourage all kinds of organizations and agencies to improve their contributions to social betterment. The authors draw from three decades of evaluation practice and theory to present their own framework for conceptualizing evaluation and for pragmatically assessing social policies and programs. They analyze four purposes of evaluation: To review the merit of programs and their value to societyTo improve the organization and its servicesTo ensure program compliance with mandatesTo build knowledge and expertise for future programs For the practitioner, these purposes help define the approach and methods for an evaluation. The authors also enrich their discussion with four possible modes of inquiry: description, classification, causal analysis, and values inquiry. Filled with tables, charts, and figures, this resource invites organizations to make the most appropriate programming decisions based on thoughtful and systematic methods. "Evaluation: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Guiding, and Improving Policies and Programs" is a tool that scholars can use to rejuvenate their view of evaluation and that practitioners can use to integrate the best techniques with a contemporary understanding of social policy and change. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Public Policy - Social Policy - Political Science | Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare - Business & Economics | Nonprofit Organizations & Charities - General |
| Dewey: 361.610 |
| LCCN: 00010232 |
| Series: Jossey-Bass Nonprofit and Public Management Series |
| Physical Information: 1.26" H x 6.4" W x 9.2" (1.69 lbs) 416 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: This is one of the most coherent and comprehensive theories ofevaluation yet formulated and one that makes a most valuablecontribution. The authors are pioneering in important newdirections. --Ernest R. House, author of Professional Evaluation and Evaluatingwith Validity This book is the best I've ever read detailing a practical theoryof evaluation. It is comprehensive, beautifully written, and makessense of the evaluation enterprise. It does so by emphasizing themajor function of evaluation as sense-making about policies andprograms. --Thomas D. Cook, professor, sociology, psychology, education, andpublic policy, Northwestern University Programs that serve the needs of the public continually facechanges brought by social, political, and economic forces. Tosurvive these changes, organizations must evaluate their programswisely and realistically. This book offers a new approach toevaluation, one that will encourage all kinds of organizations andagencies to improve their contributions to social betterment. Theauthors draw from three decades of evaluation practice and theoryto present their own framework for conceptualizing evaluation andfor pragmatically assessing social policies and programs. They analyze four purposes of evaluation: * To review the merit of programs and their value to society * To improve the organization and its services * To ensure program compliance with mandates * To build knowledge and expertise for future programs For the practitioner, these purposes help define the approach andmethods for an evaluation. The authors also enrich their discussionwith four possible modes of inquiry: description, classification, causal analysis, and values inquiry. Filled with tables, charts, and figures, this resource invites organizations to make the mostappropriate programming decisions based on thoughtful andsystematic methods. Evaluation: An Integrated Framework forUnderstanding, Guiding, and Improving Policies and Programs is atool that scholars can use to rejuvenate their view of evaluationand that practitioners can use to integrate the best techniqueswith a contemporary understanding of social policy and change. |