Small-Scale Evaluation - Principles and Practice

Informationen zum Autor Colin Robson is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Human & Health Sciences at the University  of Huddersfield. He directed a series of local, regional and national research and evaluation projects, mainly in aspects of special educational needs, at Huddersfield in association with the Hester Adrian Research Centre, University of Manchester. He subsequently was a supervisor for over twenty research students, mainly at Doctoral level, covering a wide range of disciplines - education, social work, management, music, and aspects of health, including nursing, midwifery and osteopathy, while developing and leading a postgraduate programe in Social Research and Evaluation. More recently he was, for over a decade, chief Consultant at the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation at OECD in Paris, for projects evaluating and comparing national systems for the education of students with disabilities, learning and behavioural difficulties and social disadvantages, and a follow-up project for Eurostat, the statistical arm of the European Union.   Klappentext 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.   Inhaltsverzeichnis 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: Practica...

List of contents

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

Report

A masterfully written text making complex issues approachable and very workable! Robson s personable style as if engaged in a conversation with the reader entices and enlightens. It is rare to find a text that to such an extent combines user-friendliness and an engaging style without compromising scientific stringency, ethics or practical usefulness and common sense. This is indeed a treasure trove for students and professionals of any kind and everywhere whose study or work involves people in groups and organisations in need of development, change or just a healthy reality check on how their organisation is doing.
Roland S Persson 20170508

Product details

• Authors: Colin Robson, Robson Colin
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.10.2017
• EAN: 9781412962476
• ISBN: 978-1-4129-6247-6
• No. of pages: 232
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Social sciences, law, business > Social sciences (general); SOCIAL SCIENCE / Research, Social research & statistics, Social research and statistics, Research methods: general