Evaluation Theories

Introduction
This course will be primarily based on students notes taken at 'PSYCH 315z – Comparative Evaluation Theory' in Claremont Graduate University, and publicly available documents from 'EVAL 6000: Foundations of Evaluation' at Western Michigan University.

Week 1 has an overview of the current state of evaluation that extends into Week 2 with Weeks 2-

Outline:
Weeks 1-2 In the first week we read William Shadish's 1998 presidential address to the American Evaluation Association (AEA), and the first chapter in Shadish, Cook, & Leviton's "Foundations of Program Evaluation: Theories of Practice". Weaknesses: See Discussion
 * 1) William Shadish's "Evaluation theory is who we are" (Article; 19 pages, 11,417 words)
 * 2) "Foundations of Program Evaluation: Theories of Practice", (Textbook; 17p,
 * 3)  Introduction: Comparing evaluation points of view (Shadish, Cook, & Leviton's, 1991)

In the second week, we go through the first four chapters of Alkin's "Evaluation Roots" CH. 1 (Introduction) and Ch.2 "An evaluation theory tree," Ch. 3: "Michael S. Scriven: The science of valuing." and Foundations of Program Evaluation, Ch. 2: "Good theory for social program evaluation."

In the third week read Foundations of Program Evaluation Ch. 2, Ch. 7, and Ch. 8:


 * 1) Chapter 4: "Donald T. Campbell: Methodologist of the experimenting society." (Moved from wk.
 * 2) Ch. 7: Robert E. Stake: Responsive evaluation and qualitative methods.
 * 3) Ch. 8: Lee J. Cronbach: Functional evaluation design for a world of political accommodation.


 * Week 4: Independent study on Michael Scriven, Thomas Cook, Jennifer C. Greene, David Fetterman,
 * Week 5: Independent study on Patton, Cronbach, Chen, Guba & Lincoln
 * Week 6: Independent study on Preskill, Greene, Guba & Lincoln, House

In the third week

Week by Week Class Notes

 * /Week 1: Historical Context of Evaluation and the Role of Theory in Evaluation/ – Pre-Class Notes on Wk. 1
 * /Taxonomies of Evaluation Theory/
 * /Why Evaluation Theory is Who We Are/ - William Shaddish's 1998 message to the American Evaluation Association
 * /Week 2: Overview of Evaluation Theory and the Evaluation Theory Tree/ – /Pre-Class Notes Wk. 2/
 * /The Context & History of Social Program Evaluation/
 * /Week 3: Evaluation Theory Components/
 * Evaluation Theory Panels: (See the 12 Theorist Cheat Sheet)
 * /Week 4: Evaluation Theory Panel: Michael Scriven, Thomas Cook, Jennifer C. Greene, David Fetterman, /
 * /Week 5: Evaluation Theory Panel: Patton, Cronbach, Chen, Guba & Lincoln /
 * /Week 6: Evaluation Theory Panel:/ Preskill, Greene, Guba & Lincoln, House
 * /Weeks 7: Evaluation Across Disciplines (Guest speakers)/
 * /Week 8: Midterm/
 * Week 9: Break.
 * /Week 10: Connecting Theory to Practice: The Bunche-Da Vinci Case/
 * Week 10: /Greene, Henry, Donaldson, King Comparison/ - four program evaluation theorists give their hands-on account of how they would design and plan an evaluation of an educational program.
 * Week 11: /Contingency Theories of Evaluation/
 * /Pre-Class Notes Wk. 11/
 * /Week 12: Connecting Theory to Practice: Politics and Interpersonal Relationships: /
 * Week 12: /Politics in Evaluation/ – /Pre-Class notes Wk. 12/
 * /Week 13: 4/16/14: Connecting Theory to Practice: Context, Culture and Ethics (TA Led)/
 * /Week 14: 4/23/14: Evaluation Theory Development and Research on Evaluation, Guest Speaker: John LaVelle/
 * /Week 15: 4/30/14: Credible Evidence in Evaluation and Professional Issues/
 * Week 15: /Credible Evidence/