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Evaluation in Social Work The Art and Science of Practice

by: Unrau, Yvonne A.; Gabor, Peter A.; Grinnell, Richard M.

Evaluation in Social Work The Art and Science of Practice

by: Unrau, Yvonne A.; Gabor, Peter A.; Grinnell, Richard M.

ISBN 13:
9780195308068
ISBN 10:
0195308069
Edition: 4th
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 09/14/2006
Publisher: Oxford University Press
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Summary

This book was written for you-a graduate social work student-as an introduction to program evaluation. We selected and arranged its contents so it can be used in a beginning one-semester social work program evaluation course, a social work administrative course, or a program planning course. It is designed to prepare you to: Participate in evaluative activities within your social service organization, Become a beginning critical producer of the professional evaluative literature, Become a beginning consumer of the professional evaluative literature, Master more advanced evaluation courses and texts.

About the Authors

xxvii

Part I Preparing for an Evaluation

Becoming an Accountable Practitioner

(24)

Evaluation and Accountability

(4)

The Council on Social Work Education

(2)

The National Association of Social Workers

(2)

Quality Improvement in Social Service Programs

(2)

Case-Level Evaluation

(1)

Program-Level Evaluation

(1)

Case-Level and Program-Level Data for Quality Improvement

(1)

Evaluation and the Profession

(9)

Contributing to Evidence-Based Practice

(1)

Collaborating With Program Stakeholders

(2)

Policymakers

(1)

General Public

(1)

Funders

(1)

Administrators

(1)

Practitioners

(1)

Clients

(1)

A Word About Collaboration Among Stakeholder Groups

(1)

Integrated Accountability With Service Delivery

(1)

Client-Centered Practice

(1)

Evaluation From a Person-in-Environment Perspective

(1)

Evaluation From a Program-in-Environment Perspective

(2)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

(1)

Study Questions

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

(3)

Approaches to Accountability

(26)

The External Project Approach

(3)

Characteristics of the External Project Approach

(1)

Externally Driven

(2)

Resistant Social Workers

(1)

Intrusiveness

(1)

Periodic or No Feedback to Social Workers

(1)

Large Recommended Changes

(1)

Not Practical in Applied Settings

(1)

Difficult to Incorporate in Practice Settings

(1)

The Internal Monitoring Approach

(7)

Characteristics of the Internal Monitoring Approach

(1)

Internally Driven

(1)

Cooperative Social Workers

(1)

Integrated

(1)

Ongoing Continuous Feedback

(1)

Minor Recommended Change

(1)

Easy to Incorporate in Practice Settings

(1)

Advantages of the Internal Monitoring Approach

(1)

Increased Understanding of Programs

(1)

Relevant Feedback

(1)

Timely Feedback

(1)

Self-Protection

(1)

Practitioner and Client Satisfaction

(1)

Professionalism

(1)

Fine-Tuning Programs

(2)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

(6)

Recap and Online Materials

(1)

Study Questions

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

(2)

Designing Client-Centered Programs

(34)

Social Service Agencies

(3)

Agency Mission Statements

(1)

Agency Goals

(1)

Requirements for Goals

(1)

Agency Objectives

(1)

Social Service Programs

(5)

An Agency Versus a Program

(1)

Program Designs

(8)

Program Goals

(2)

Unintended Program Results

(1)

Program Goals Versus Agency Goals

(2)

Types of Program Objectives

(1)

Knowledge-Based Objectives

(1)

Affect-Based Objectives

(1)

Behavioral-Based Objectives

(1)

Qualities of Program Objectives

(1)

Meaningful

(1)

Specific

(1)

Measurable

(1)

Directional

(1)

Program Versus Practice Objectives

(2)

Example 1: Bob's Self-Sufficiency

(1)

Example 2: Jane's Job Dissatisfaction

(1)

Program Activities

(1)

Program Logic Models

(11)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

(1)

Study Questions

(2)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

(3)

Getting Ready for an Evaluation

(34)

Program Scope and Evaluation

(1)

Planning With Stakeholders

(16)

Asking Evaluation Questions

(3)

Mapping Concepts

(2)

Reviewing the Literature

(2)

Developing Schedules

(1)

Tasks

(1)

Roles

(2)

Timelines

101

(2)

Producing Documentation

103

(2)

Identifying Data Needs

105

(1)

Focusing Evaluation Efforts

106

(8)

Client Demographics

107

(2)

Service Statistics

109

(1)

Quality Standards

110

(1)

Feedback

111

(1)

Client Outcomes

112

(2)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

114

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

115

(1)

Study Questions

115

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

116

(5)

Part II Doing an Evaluation

Doing a Needs Assessment

121

(34)

What Are Needs Assessments?

122

(1)

Social Problems

122

(2)

Social Needs

124

(3)

Perceived Needs

126

(1)

Normative Needs

126

(1)

Relative Needs

127

(1)

Expressed Needs

127

(1)

Program Solutions

127

(1)

Steps in Doing a Needs Assessment

128

(22)

Step 1: Focusing the Problem

130

(1)

Step 2: Developing Needs Assessment Questions

130

(1)

Step 3: Identifying Targets for Intervention (Unit of Analysis)

131

(1)

Establishing Target Parameters

132

(1)

Sampling (Data Sources)

133

(1)

Step 4: Developing a Data Collection Plan

134

(1)

Reviewing Existing Reports

135

(1)

Secondary Data Analyses

136

(1)

Individual Interviews

137

(1)

Group Interviews

138

(3)

Telephone and Mail Surveys

141

(2)

Step 5: Analyzing and Displaying Data

143

(1)

Collecting Quantitative Data

143

(2)

Collecting Qualitative Data

145

(1)

Step 6: Disseminating and Communicating Findings

146

(4)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

150

(2)

Recap and Online Materials

152

(1)

Study Questions

152

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

153

(2)

Doing a Process Evaluation

155

(36)

Purposes of Process Evaluations

156

(3)

To Improve a Program's Operations

157

(1)

To Generate Knowledge for Our Profession

158

(1)

To Estimate Cost Efficiency

158

(1)

Steps in a Process Evaluation

159

(23)

Step 1: Deciding What Questions to Ask

159

(1)

What Is the Program's Background?

159

(1)

What Is the Program's Client Profile?

160

(1)

What Is the Program's Staff Profile?

160

(1)

What Is the Amount of Service Provided to Clients?

161

(1)

What Are the Program's Interventions and Activities?

162

(2)

What Administrative Supports Are in Place to Support Client Service Delivery?

164

(7)

How Satisfied Are the Program's Stakeholders?

171

(2)

How Efficient Is the Program?

173

(1)

Step 2: Developing Data Collection Instruments

173

(1)

Ease of Use

173

(1)

Appropriateness to the Flow of a Program's Operations

174

(1)

Design With User Input

175

(1)

Step 3: Developing a Data Collection Monitoring System

175

(1)

Number of Cases to Include (Unit of Analysis)

176

(1)

Times to Collect the Data

177

(1)

Methods for Collecting the Data

178

(1)

Step 4: Scoring and Analyzing Data

179

(1)

Step 5: Developing a Feedback System

180

(2)

Step 6: Disseminating and Communicating Results

182

(1)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

182

(2)

Recap and Online Materials

184

(1)

Study Questions

184

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

185

(6)

Doing an Outcome Evaluation

191

(30)

Purpose of Outcome Evaluations

193

(1)

Uses of Outcome Evaluations

194

(2)

Improving Program Services to Clients

194

(1)

Influencing Decisions?

195

(1)

Generating Knowledge for the Profession

195

(1)

Steps in Outcome Evaluations

196

(21)

Step 1: Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Program Objectives

196

(3)

Step 2: Operationalizing Variables and Stating the Outcomes

199

(2)

Step 3: Designing a Monitoring System

201

(7)

Deciding the Number of Clients to Include (Unit of Analysis)

208

(2)

Deciding When Data Will Be Collected

210

(2)

Deciding How Data Will Be Collected

212

(1)

Step 4: Analyzing and Displaying Data

212

(2)

Step 5: Developing a Feedback System

214

(1)

Step 6: Disseminating and Communicating Results

215

(2)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

217

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

217

(1)

Study Questions

217

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

218

(3)

Doing an Efficiency Evaluation

221

(26)

Cost Effectiveness Versus Cost Benefit

222

(4)

When to Evaluate for Efficiency

222

(4)

Steps in Conducting a Cost-Benefit Evaluation

226

(11)

Step 1: Deciding on an Accounting Perspective

226

(1)

The Individual Program's Participant's Perspective

226

(1)

The Funding Source's Perspective

227

(1)

Applying the Procedure

227

(1)

Step 2: Specifying the Cost--Benefit Model

228

(1)

Looking at Costs

228

(1)

Looking at Benefits

228

(1)

Applying the Procedure

228

(2)

Step 3: Determining Costs

230

(1)

Direct Costs

230

(1)

Indirect Costs

230

(1)

Applying the Procedure

230

(1)

Step 4: Determining Benefits

231

(1)

Applying the Procedure

232

(1)

Step 5: Adjusting for Present Value

233

(1)

Applying the Procedure

234

(1)

Step 6: Completing the Cost-Benefit Analysis

235

(1)

Applying the Procedure

235

(2)

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

237

(1)

Applying the Procedure

238

(1)

A Few Words About Efficiency-Focused Evaluations

238

(3)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

241

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

241

(1)

Study Questions

241

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

242

(5)

Part III Gathering Data and Making Decisions

Measuring Practice and Program Objectives

247

(28)

Why Measurement Is Necessary

247

(3)

Objectivity

249

(1)

Precision

249

(1)

Types of Measuring Instruments

250

(8)

Rating Scales

250

(1)

Graphic Rating Scales

251

(1)

Self-Anchored Rating Scales

251

(2)

Summated Scales

253

(1)

Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS)

254

(2)

Creating Practice Objectives From Program Objectives

256

(2)

Measurement by the Numbers

258

(4)

Standardized Measuring Instruments

262

(6)

Is the Measurement Useful?

268

(2)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

270

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

270

(1)

Study Questions

270

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

271

(4)

Data Sources, Sampling, and Data Collection Methods

275

(30)

Data Sources

276

(3)

Sampling

279

(4)

Probability Sampling

280

(1)

Nonprobability Sampling

280

(3)

Data Collection Methods

283

(15)

Obtaining Existing Data

289

(1)

Documents and Reports

289

(1)

Data Sets

290

(1)

Obtaining New Data

291

(1)

Face-to-Face Individual Interviews

292

(1)

Surveys

292

(2)

Group Interviews

294

(2)

Observation

296

(2)

Fitting Data Collection to the Program

298

(1)

Ease of Use

298

(1)

Appropriateness to the Flow of Program Operations

299

(1)

Design With User Input

299

(1)

Developing a Data Collection Monitoring System

299

(2)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

301

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

301

(1)

Study Questions

301

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

302

(3)

Developing a Data Information System

305

(26)

Staff Members' Roles in Developing a Data Information System

306

(2)

Establishing an Organizational Plan

307

(1)

Case-Level Data Collection

308

(2)

Program-Level Data Collection

310

(11)

Data Collection at Intake

311

(3)

Data Collection at Client Contact

314

(3)

Data Collection at Termination

317

(1)

Data Collection to Obtain Feedback

318

(3)

Data Management

321

(3)

Manual Data Management

321

(1)

Computer-Assisted Data Management

322

(1)

Reporting

323

(1)

A Look to the Future

324

(1)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

324

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

325

(1)

Study Questions

325

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

326

(5)

Using Graphics to Report Evaluation Data

331

(10)

Characteristics of an Effective Graphic

333

(1)

Bar Charts

334

(1)

Pie Charts

334

(1)

Line Graphs

334

(1)

Illustrations

335

(1)

Photographs

336

(1)

Checklist

337

(1)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

338

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

338

(1)

Study Questions

338

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

339

(2)

Analyzing Qualitative Data

341

(20)

Narrative Data

341

(1)

The Analysis Process

342

(6)

Step 1: Get to Know Your Data

342

(1)

Step 2: Focus the Analysis

343

(1)

Focus by Question or Topic, Time Period, or Event

343

(1)

Focus by Case, Individual, or Group

343

(1)

Step 3: Categorize Information

343

(1)

Preset Categories

344

(1)

Emergent Categories

344

(1)

Step 4: Identify Patterns and Connections Within and Between Categories

345

(1)

Within Category Description

346

(1)

Larger Categories

347

(1)

Relative Importance

347

(1)

Relationships

347

(1)

Step 5: Interpretation---Bringing It All Together

347

(1)

``Nuts and Bolts'' of Narrative Analysis

348

(4)

Data Management Tips

348

(1)

Check Your Data

348

(1)

Add ID Numbers

348

(1)

Prepare Data for Analysis

348

(1)

Make Copies

349

(1)

Identify the Source of All Data

349

(1)

Mark Key Themes

349

(1)

Define Categories

350

(1)

Cut and Sort

351

(1)

Make Connections

352

(1)

Enhancing the Process

352

(1)

Use Several Sources of Data

352

(1)

Track Your Choices

353

(1)

Involve Others

353

(1)

Pitfalls to Avoid

353

(1)

Avoid Generalizing

353

(1)

Choose Quotes Carefully

354

(1)

Address Limitations and Alternative Explanations

354

(1)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

354

(3)

Recap and Online Materials

357

(1)

Study Questions

357

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

358

(3)

Making Decisions With Data

361

(28)

Objective Data

361

(1)

Subjective Data

362

(2)

Case-Level Decision Making

364

(11)

The Engagement and Problem-Definition Phase

364

(1)

The Practice Objective Setting Phase

365

(1)

The Intervention Phase

366

(1)

Deterioration, or No Change

367

(1)

Insufficient, or Slow Change

368

(2)

Satisfactory Change

370

(2)

The Termination and Follow-Up Phase

372

(3)

Program-Level Decision Making

375

(4)

Process

376

(1)

Outcome

376

(1)

Problems and Cases

376

(2)

Program

378

(1)

Agency

379

(1)

Using Outcome Monitoring Data in Program-Level Decision Making

379

(2)

Acceptable Results

380

(1)

Mixed Results

380

(1)

Inadequate Results

381

(1)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

381

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

382

(1)

Study Questions

382

(2)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

384

(5)

Part IV Knowing the Contexts of Evaluations

Evaluation Politics, Ethics, and Standards

389

(28)

Politics of Evaluation

389

(1)

Appropriate and Inappropriate Uses of Evaluation

390

(4)

Misuses of Evaluation

390

(1)

Justifying Decisions Already Made

390

(1)

Inappropriate Use of Public Relations

391

(1)

Used for Performance Appraisals

391

(1)

Fulfilling Funding Requirements

392

(1)

Proper Uses of Evaluation

392

(1)

Internal Decision Making

392

(1)

External Decision Making

393

(1)

Political Influences on the Evaluation Process

394

(4)

Manipulating the Evaluation Process

394

(1)

Misdirecting the Evaluation Process

395

(1)

Program Objectives

395

(1)

Sample Selection

396

(1)

Data Collection Methods

397

(1)

Interpretation of Findings

398

(1)

Professional Standards for Evaluation

398

(4)

Utility

400

(1)

Feasibility

401

(1)

Propriety

401

(1)

Accuracy

402

(1)

Principles of Evaluation Practice

402

(9)

Principle 1: Evaluation and Service Delivery Activities Should Be Integrated

406

(3)

Principle 2: Involve From the Beginning as Many Stakeholder Groups as Possible

409

(1)

Principle 3: Involve All Levels of Staff in the Evaluation Process

409

(1)

Principle 4: Make Explicit the Purpose of the Evaluation

409

(1)

Principle 5: Provide a Balanced Report and Disseminate Early and Regularly

410

(1)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

411

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

411

(1)

Study Questions

411

(2)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

413

(4)

Culturally Appropriate Evaluations

417

(20)

The Impact of Culture

418

(1)

Bridging the Culture Gap

419

(3)

Cultural Awareness

419

(1)

Intercultural Communication

420

(1)

Nonverbal

421

(1)

Verbal

421

(1)

Cultural Frameworks

422

(3)

Orientation to Information

422

(1)

Decision Making

422

(1)

Individualism

423

(1)

Tradition

423

(1)

Pace of Life

424

(1)

Putting It Together: The Practice of Culturally Competent Evaluation

425

(5)

Cultural Awareness

425

(1)

Intercultural Communication Skills

426

(1)

Developing Specific Knowledge About the Culture

426

(1)

Adapting Evaluations

427

(1)

Working with Stakeholders

427

(1)

Adapting Processes

428

(1)

Providing Meaningful Products

429

(1)

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

430

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

431

(1)

Study Questions

431

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

432

(5)

Writing Grant Proposals

437

(16)

Gathering Background Information

438

(1)

Program Concept

438

(1)

Your Program

438

(1)

Program Expenses

439

(1)

Components of a Proposal

439

(8)

Executive Summary

439

(1)

Statement of Need

440

(1)

Program Description

441

(1)

Objectives

442

(1)

Methods, or Interventions

443

(1)

Staffing/Administration

443

(1)

Evaluation

444

(1)

Sustainability

444

(1)

Budget

445

(1)

Expense Budget

445

(1)

Support and Revenue and Statement

446

(1)

Budget Narrative

446

(1)

Organizational Information

447

(1)

Conclusion

447

(1)

Letter Proposal

447

(2)

What Happens Next?

449

(1)

Summing Up

449

(1)

Recap and Online Materials

450

(1)

Study Questions

450

(1)

References, Further Reading, and Resources

451

(2)

Credits

453

(4)

Index

457

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Evaluation in Social Work The Art and Science of Practice

Evaluation in Social Work The Art and Science of Practice

9780195308068

0195308069

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Evaluation in Social Work The Art and Science of Practice

Evaluation in Social Work The Art and Science of Practice

9780195308068

0195308069

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

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