Effective Evaluation: Improving the Usefulness of Evaluation Results Through Responsive and Naturalistic Approaches

Description

Offers a new model of evaluation that combines two emerging streams of thought: responsive evaluation and naturalistic methodologies. In effect, the information provided relates to the needs of a particular audience and grows out of situations at hand rather than a predetermined design. Includes a new preface. - Tables and Figures - Preface to the Classic Paperback - Preface - The Authors Part One: A New Approach to Evaluation 1. Comparing Evaluation Models: The Tyler Rationale - Turmoil and Dissent - Countenance Model - Context—Input—Process—Product Model - Goal—Free Model - Connoisseurship Model - Summary 2. Emergence of Responsive Evaluation: Stake’s Responsive Model - An Expansion of Stake’s Proposals - Summary 3. Determining Merit and Worth: Merit and Worth as Pluralistic Phenomena - Determining Merit and Worth - Relationship of Merit and Worth - Relationship to Formative and Summative Evaluation Part Two: The Naturalistic Method of Inquiry 4. Advantages of Naturalistic Methods: Basic Assumptions of the Paradigms - Derivative Postures of the Paradigms - Can the Scientific and the Naturalistic Paradigms Be Integrated? - A Definition of Naturalistic Inquiry - Relevance of the Naturalistic Paradigm for Educational Evaluation - Summary 5. Naturalistic Solutions to Methodological Problems: Establishing Boundaries - Finding a Focus - Meeting Tests of Rigor Part Three: Improving Evaluator Skills and Techniques 6. The Evaluator as Instrument: Major Characteristics of the Instrument - What Are Desirable Qualities for “Human Instruments”? - Can the Evaluator as Instrument Be Improved? - Summary 7. Interviewing, Observation, and Nonverbal Cue Interpretation: When Is an Interview the Most Appropriate Tool? - Types of Interviews - Techniques for Interviewing - Planning and Setting Up the Interview - Analysis and Integration of Field Notes - Determining Reliability and Validity of Interview Data - Observation - A Rationale for Observation - Overt and Covert Observation: Are There Trade-Offs? - Observation and Recording of Data - Drawbacks of Observation - Ethical Problems of Observing - Training for Observation - Determining Reliability and Validity of Observational Data - Nonverbal Communication - Categorization of Nonverbal Communication 8. Using Documents, Records, and Unobtrusive Measures: Documents and Records - Why Differentiate Between Documents and Records? - Utility of Documents and Records - Using Documents and Records - Methodology of Content Analysis - Methodology of Case-Study Aggregation Analysis - Analysis of Records - Integrating and Using the Information Collected from Records - Does the Use of Records Create Special Ethical Problems? - Unobtrusive Measures - Strengths and Weaknesses of Unobtrusive Measures Part Four: Implementing Naturalistic Responsive Evaluation 9. Initiating and Organizing the Evaluation: Negotiating the Evaluation Contract - Organizing the Evaluation Team - Getting Established at the Evaluation Site - Taking Account of Human and Political Factors 10. Identifying Key Issues and Concerns: Key Definitions - Identifying Stakeholders - Making Contact with Informants - Eliciting Concerns and Issues - Inferring Value Frameworks - Testing the Rigor of the Identification Process - An Example 11. Gathering Useful Information: Kinds of Information Required - Sources of Information 12. Reporting Results Effectively and Making Recommendations: Forms of Reports - The Case Study - Making Judgments and Recommendations - References - Name Index - Subject Index