NCJ Number
84562
Date Published
Unknown
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This paper presents the rationale for doing an evaluability assessment as a prerequisite for formative or summative evaluations and outlines the process by which evaluability assessments are undertaken.
Abstract
An evaluability assessment helps program staff conceptualize the program, so that they can determine the feasibility of doing other research, and defines and links program inputs, efforts, and outputs. An evaluability assessment clearly identifies project inputs and outputs, specifies intended outputs and outcomes, states the logic linking efforts to anticipated outputs, and states the logic linking accepted outputs to expected outcomes. Unless these four conditions have been met, any evaluative research conducted on a project is likely to encounter major problems. The first step in conducting an assessment is to obtain the views of the intended evaluation users on such questions as the resources to be used in the project, the major activities that will make up the project, and the link between efforts and outcomes. Additional information should be gathered from written documents such as grant applications and quarterly reports. In addition, project staff and others familiar with the program should be interviewed. The collected information should be summarized in a flow model illustrating how the project is believed to operate. This model should be analyzed to determine the type of evaluation that will be the most appropriate. The final step is for project managers to assess the evaluable program model in relation to the intended use of the evaluation. One reference is listed.