Advanced Theory in Program Evaluation

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

Outcome 1: Know

• How the history of program evaluation has been affected by the “theories” it has espoused (and vice versa);
• The criteria for a meaningful theory of program evaluation;
• A variety of specific evaluation theories/models/approaches, both current and historical;

Outcome 2: Understand

• How evaluation theory and its use in practice distinguish the field of evaluation from traditional social science disciplines;
• The purposes and difficulties of developing a unified theory for program evaluation;
• The role and value of various types of theory in program evaluation;
• The relation of evaluation theory to other professional knowledge in program evaluation (Program Evaluation Standards, revised AEA Guiding Principles, AEA’s Program Evaluator Competencies);

Outcome 3: Apply

• Apply five specific theories to evaluation cases;

Outcome 4: Reflect

• Reflect meaningfully about how to use theory in personal evaluation practice

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Assignment 1: “Bringing an evaluation theorist to life” project	40%
Assignment 2: Development of a formal program theory	40%
Assignment 3: Reflection on three guest speakers’ theoretical approaches and forum posts	10%
Participation/Professionalism	10%

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance and participation are critical in this course. This includes completing pre-readings and assignments, participating in class and on-line discussion forums and exercises, and actively learning in class. It often also means preparing specific assignments (e.g., materials on theorists, other exercises) in advance for discussion during class. Incompletes are an option only when students are unable to complete work because of life intervening (e.g., illness, death in the family). Although I am empathetic, poor planning is not an acceptable excuse.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

• Alkin, M. C., & Christie, C. A. (Eds.). (2023), Evaluation Roots: Theory Influencing Practice. Guilford Publications.
• Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Leviton, L. C. (1991). Foundations of program evaluation: Theories of practice. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. (Chapters 1-2).
• Funnell, S. C. & Rogers, P. J. (2011). Purposeful program theory: Effective use of theories of change and logic models. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
• Mertens, D. M., & Wilson, A. T. (2018). Program evaluation theory and practice: A comprehensive guide (3rd ed). New York, NY: Guilford Press. (2nd Edition eBook: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uncg/detail.action?docID=5601866 Links to an external site).
• McDavid, J. C., Huse, I., & Hawthorn, L. R. (2018). Program evaluation and performance measurement: An introduction to practice. Sage Publications.