Evaluation in social work : the art and science of practice / Yvonne A. Unrau, Peter A. Gabor, Richard M. Grinnell, Jr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Unrau, Yvonne A., author.

Gabor, Peter (Sociologist), author.

Grinnell, Richard M., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Human services--Evaluation.

Human services.

Human services--Evaluation--Case studies.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxviii, 468 p. ) ill.

Edition:

Fourth edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford, [England] : Oxford University Press, 2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Providing an introduction to programme evaluation, this book is aimed at helping participation in evaluative activities, showing readers how to become a beginning critical producer of the professional evaluative literature, and how to master more advanced evaluation courses and texts.

Social work practice is founded upon the linkage between the objectives and goals of clients, programs, and agencies, and the evaluation process is critical for making sure those links are strong. Building on its earlier editions with seven new chapters and complete revisions of the others, as well as a strong online companion website prescence, this text is more relevant and user-friendly than ever. It provides a straightforward introduction to program evaluation couched within the quantitative and qualitative traditions - the two approaches most commonly used to generate relevant social work knowledge. The result gives students a sound conceptual understanding of how the ideas of evaluation can be used in the delivery of day-to-day services they will be offering your clients, as well as the knowledge and skills necessary to demonstrate accountability.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

About the Authors

PART I: PREPARING FOR AN EVALUATION

1 Becoming an Accountable Practitioner

Evaluation and Accountability

Quality Improvement in Social Service Programs

Evaluation and the Profession

Evaluation From a Person-in-Environment Perspective

Evaluation From a Program-in-Environment Perspective

Summing Up and Looking Ahead

Recap and Online Materials

Study Questions

References, Further Reading, and Resources

2 Approaches to Accountability

The External Project Approach

The Internal Monitoring Approach

Fine-Tuning Programs

3 Designing Client-Centered Programs

Social Service Agencies

Social Service Programs

Program Designs

Program Versus Practice Objectives

Program Activities

Program Logic Models

4 Getting Ready for an Evaluation

Program Scope and Evaluation

Planning With Stakeholders

Identifying Data Needs

Focusing Evaluation Efforts

PART II: DOING AN EVALUATION

5 Doing a Needs Assessment

What Are Needs Assessments?

Social Problems

Social Needs

Program Solutions

Steps in Doing a Needs Assessment

6 Doing a Process Evaluation

Purposes of Process Evaluations

Steps in a Process Evaluation

References, Further Reading, and Resources.

7 Doing an Outcome Evaluation

Purpose of Outcome Evaluations

Uses of Outcome Evaluations

Steps in Outcome Evaluations

8 Doing an Efficiency Evaluation

Cost Effectiveness Versus Cost Benefit

Steps in Conducting a Cost-Benefit Evaluation

Cost-Effectiveness Analyses

A Few Words About Efficiency-Focused Evaluations

PART III: GATHERING DATA AND MAKING DECISIONS

9 Measuring Practice and Program Objectives

Why Measurement Is Necessary

Types of Measuring Instruments

Measurement by the Numbers

Standardized Measuring Instruments

Is the Measurement Useful?

10 Data Sources, Sampling, and Data Collection Methods

Data Sources

Sampling

Data Collection Methods

Fitting Data Collection to the Program

Developing a Data Collection Monitoring System

11 Developing a Data Information System

Staff Members' Roles in Developing a Data Information System

Case-Level Data Collection

Program-Level Data Collection

Data Management

A Look to the Future

12 Using Graphics to Report Evaluation Data

Characteristics of an Effective Graphic

Bar Charts

Pie Charts

Line Graphs

Illustrations

Photographs

Checklist

Summing Up and Looking Ahead.

Recap and Online Materials

13 Analyzing Qualitative Data

Narrative Data

The Analysis Process

"Nuts and Bolts" of Narrative Analysis

Enhancing the Process

Pitfalls to Avoid

14 Making Decisions With Data

Objective Data

Subjective Data

Case-Level Decision Making

Program-Level Decision Making

Using Outcome Monitoring Data in Program-Level

PART IV: KNOWING THE CONTEXTS OF EVALUATIONS

15 Evaluation Politics, Ethics, and Standards

Politics of Evaluation

Appropriate and Inappropriate Uses of Evaluation

Political Influences on the Evaluation Process

Professional Standards for Evaluation

Principles of Evaluation Practice

16 Culturally Appropriate Evaluations

The Impact of Culture

Bridging the Culture Gap

Cultural Frameworks

Putting It Together: The Practice of Culturally Competent Evaluation

17 Writing Grant Proposals

Gathering Background Information

Components of a Proposal

Letter Proposal

What Happens Next?

Summing Up

Credits

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y.

Notes:

Formerly CIP.

Previously published under the title: Evaluation in the human services. c2001.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-19-029466-3

1-280-84665-8

0-19-804209-4

1-4294-0304-7

OCLC:

870243365