Evaluation research can assess the value and effectiveness of interventions and innovations involving people. While this has often been on a grand scale, this book focuses on small-scale projects carried out by an individual or small group, typically lasting for weeks or at most a few months, at a local rather than national level. Using limited jargon and featuring integrated, real-world examples, this second edition offers a clear, accessible background to evaluation and prepares you to undertake your own small-scale evaluation research project.
Key features include discussion of:
Different approaches to evaluation and how to choose between them
The advantages and disadvantages of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
Realist evaluation and its increasing importance
The centrality of ethical and political issues
The influence and opportunity of the Internet
Tightly focused on the realities of carrying out small-scale evaluation, Small-Scale Evaluation is a highly practical guide covering the needs of both social scientists and others without this background.
Colin Robson is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Human & Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Who is the book for?
What do you need to be able to carry out an evaluation?
Evaluation research
Small-scale evaluation research
The literature search
The Internet
Using the book
A note on 'Tasks'
Chapter 2: Evaluation: The What and the Why
What is evaluation?
Why evaluate?
Evaluation and social research
What do they think they want?
What are they going to find credible?
Chapter 3: The Advantages of Collaboration
Stakeholders
Other models of involvement
Using consultants
Persuading others to be involved
When is some form of participatory evaluation indicated?
Chapter 4: Evaluation Designs
Different approaches to evaluation
Needs assessment
Outcome evaluation
Process evaluation
Combining process and outcome approaches
Formative and summative evaluation
Efficiency evaluation
Reviews
Program monitoring
Theory-based evaluation
An interim summing up
Chapter 5: Designing Your Evaluation
Reviewing the 'literature'
Research questions
Methods of data collection
Data quality
Sampling
Prespecified and emergent designs
Doing a shoe-string evaluation
Chapter 6: Ethical and Political Considerations
Ethical issues
The problem of unintended consequences
Evaluations involving children and other vulnerable populations
Ethical issues in online research
Ethical boards and committees
The politics of evaluation
Chapter 7: Practicalities
Time budgeting
Gaining access
Getting organized
Getting help and support
Chapter 8: Dealing with the Data
Coding data
Analysis and interpretation of quantitative data
Analysis and interpretation of qualitative data
Chapter 9: Communicating the Findings
Evaluation reports
Facilitating the implementation of evaluation findings
Chapter 10: Taking it further
Further reading
Postscript
Appendix A: Chapter Tasks
Appendix B: Simple Evaluations
