Adaptation and Use of a Five-Task Model for Evaluability Assessment

Background: Over four decades have passed since the concept of evaluability was introduced; however, the availability and accessibility of methodology, frameworks, checklists and other guidance on evaluability assessments remains limited (Smith, 2005). Evaluators who wish to conduct an evaluability...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brad R. Watts, Heather M. Washington
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University 2016-10-01
Series:Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation
Online Access:https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/460
_version_ 1797812634624458752
author Brad R. Watts
Heather M. Washington
author_facet Brad R. Watts
Heather M. Washington
author_sort Brad R. Watts
collection DOAJ
description Background: Over four decades have passed since the concept of evaluability was introduced; however, the availability and accessibility of methodology, frameworks, checklists and other guidance on evaluability assessments remains limited (Smith, 2005). Evaluators who wish to conduct an evaluability assessment must adopt one of few existing models or operate without guidance. This case provides an example of one model and how it was utilized to conduct an evaluability assessment of an ongoing program intervention.   Purpose: This article provides a real-world example of how an evaluability assessment was conducted using a five-task model from the criminal justice field.   Setting: A criminal justice program operating with at-risk adolescent youth and police officers who patrol their neighborhoods.   Intervention: NA   Research Design:  NA   Data Collection and Analysis: The original evaluability assessment collected data through interviews with program personnel, observations by the evaluability researchers, and analysis of survey data provided by the program (i.e., program participants’ responses to survey questions about the program).   Findings: The evaluability assessment conducted in this case study example identified multiple changes necessary for the program to be evaluable. Technical assistance was provided in order to support the efforts of the program to prepare for evaluation, though, the evaluability assessment identified risks and costs for the program to consider prior to proceeding. The findings were developed through a five-task process, which evaluators may be able to adapt for use with other types of programs undergoing evaluability assessment.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T07:41:19Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0be694c1db394b21ba5bbbde597cc22d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1556-8180
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-13T07:41:19Z
publishDate 2016-10-01
publisher The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University
record_format Article
series Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation
spelling doaj.art-0be694c1db394b21ba5bbbde597cc22d2023-06-03T06:57:55ZengThe Evaluation Center at Western Michigan UniversityJournal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation1556-81802016-10-01122710.56645/jmde.v12i27.460Adaptation and Use of a Five-Task Model for Evaluability AssessmentBrad R. Watts0Heather M. Washington1The Evaluation Center, Western Michigan UniversityWest Virginia University Background: Over four decades have passed since the concept of evaluability was introduced; however, the availability and accessibility of methodology, frameworks, checklists and other guidance on evaluability assessments remains limited (Smith, 2005). Evaluators who wish to conduct an evaluability assessment must adopt one of few existing models or operate without guidance. This case provides an example of one model and how it was utilized to conduct an evaluability assessment of an ongoing program intervention.   Purpose: This article provides a real-world example of how an evaluability assessment was conducted using a five-task model from the criminal justice field.   Setting: A criminal justice program operating with at-risk adolescent youth and police officers who patrol their neighborhoods.   Intervention: NA   Research Design:  NA   Data Collection and Analysis: The original evaluability assessment collected data through interviews with program personnel, observations by the evaluability researchers, and analysis of survey data provided by the program (i.e., program participants’ responses to survey questions about the program).   Findings: The evaluability assessment conducted in this case study example identified multiple changes necessary for the program to be evaluable. Technical assistance was provided in order to support the efforts of the program to prepare for evaluation, though, the evaluability assessment identified risks and costs for the program to consider prior to proceeding. The findings were developed through a five-task process, which evaluators may be able to adapt for use with other types of programs undergoing evaluability assessment. https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/460
spellingShingle Brad R. Watts
Heather M. Washington
Adaptation and Use of a Five-Task Model for Evaluability Assessment
Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation
title Adaptation and Use of a Five-Task Model for Evaluability Assessment
title_full Adaptation and Use of a Five-Task Model for Evaluability Assessment
title_fullStr Adaptation and Use of a Five-Task Model for Evaluability Assessment
title_full_unstemmed Adaptation and Use of a Five-Task Model for Evaluability Assessment
title_short Adaptation and Use of a Five-Task Model for Evaluability Assessment
title_sort adaptation and use of a five task model for evaluability assessment
url https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/460
work_keys_str_mv AT bradrwatts adaptationanduseofafivetaskmodelforevaluabilityassessment
AT heathermwashington adaptationanduseofafivetaskmodelforevaluabilityassessment