What Makes A Good Evaluation Question
Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, be certain to have read all the required resources for this week.
In your initial post, briefly describe the components of a good evaluation question. Explain the impact of political and ethical issues associated with program evaluation. Explain the process involved in formulating and developing a quality evaluation question.
Identify pertinent components that good evaluation questions should contain. In addition, identify an appropriate topic for the Final Paper, and formulate a preliminary research evaluation question relevant to that assignment.
Evaluation Proposal
The focus of the Final Paper will be on the creation of an evaluation proposal suitable for presentation in a criminal justice setting or agency. The proposal will center on needs assessment, impact monitoring, and the application of quantitative and/or qualitative techniques in the assessment of the selected program or policy.
Rossi, Lipsey, and Freeman (2004) discuss the social context of evaluation. Your evaluation proposal should assess the effectiveness of a program or policy, addressing a specific problem proposed or developed as a solution to a contemporary issue in your chosen area of specialization within the Masters in Criminal Justice program:
Law Enforcement and Corrections Administration, Cybercrime and Technology, Forensic Science, or Homeland Security. Utilize research skills to locate a minimum of 15 appropriate scholarly sources to support your statements within the required sections below.
Small sections of the evaluation proposal will be completed throughout the progression of the course. Students can use those sections verbatim within the text of the Final Paper if they so choose. The evaluation proposal will be assessed based on the inclusion of the following elements:
Introduction
Present your research question and introduction from the assignment you completed in Week Two.
Literature Review
From the assignment you completed in Week Four, compose a literature review comprised of previous scholarly material and research results relevant to your selected topic.
Program or Policy Description
Describe the program or policy that is to be evaluated, including its purpose, stakeholders, history, and outcomes, which will be part of your introduction and description you completed in Week Two.
Explain the impact of relevant issues, including potential political, social, economic, and/or cultural constraints associated with this program or policy.
Proposal Narrative
Present your measures and methodology from the assignment you completed in Week Three.
Critique the design of the program or policy by describing the methodology, including the data to be collected, the means of collection, and how the data will be used.
Identify a proposed budget and projected schedule for the evaluation.
Summary
Summarize the expected outcomes, the questions to be answered, and the expected results that would indicate success of the program or policy.
Required Resource
Text
Rossi, P. H., Lipsey, M. W., & Freeman, H. E. (2004). Evaluation: A systemic approach (7th ed.). Retrieved from https://content.uagc.edu
Chapter 3: Identifying Issues and Formulating Questions
Chapter 4: Assessing the Need for a Program
Recommended Resource
Article
Farrington, D. P. (2006). Methodological quality and the evaluation of anti-crime programs. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 2(3), 329-337. doi: 10.1007/s11292-006-9012-y