You understand the basic concepts and terms of program evaluation: ___You understand that evaluation is the systematic investigation of the merit, worth, or significance of an object or effort ___You understand that a program is used to describe the object or effort that is being evaluated ___You understand that program evaluation is a way to evaluate the specific projects and activities community groups may take part in ___You understand that stakeholders are those who care about the program or effort You understand that program evaluation: ___Helps clarify program plans ___Improves communication among partners ___Gathers feedback needed to improve and be accountable for program effectiveness You know how to evaluate a specific program: ___You know what will be evaluated ___You have decided what criteria will be used to judge program performance ___You have decided what standards of performance must be reached for the program to be considered successful ___You know what evidence will indicate performance ___You know what conclusions about program performance are justified based on the available evidence ___You have engaged stakeholders ___You have described the program ___You have focused the evaluation design ___You understand that possible focuses are: to gain insight, to improve how things get done, to determine what the effects of the program are, and to effect those who participate in it ___You have gathered credible evidence ___You have justified your conclusions ___You understand how to ensure the use of the information and share lessons learned ___You know that there are four categories of evaluation standards: utility, feasibility, propriety, and accuracy ___You understand the standards in each category ___You understand which standards are most applicable to each step of evaluation practice When writing your evaluation report: ___Provide interim and final reports to intended users in time for intended uses ___Tailor the report content, format, and style for the audience(s) by involving audience members ___Include an executive summary ___Summarize the stakeholders and how they were engaged ___Describe essential features of the program (perhaps in appendices) ___Explain the focus of the evaluation and its limitations ___Include an adequate summary of the evaluation plan and procedures ___Provide all necessary technical information (perhaps in appendices) ___Specify the standards and criteria for evaluative judgments ___Explain the evaluative judgments and how they are supported by the evidence ___List both strengths and weaknesses of the evaluation ___Discuss recommendations for action along with their advantages and disadvantages ___Ensure protections for program clients and other stakeholders ___Anticipate how people or organizations may be affected by the findings ___Present minority opinions or rejoinders where necessary ___Verify that the report is accurate and unbiased ___Organize the report logically and include an appropriate level of detail ___Remove technical jargon ___Use examples, illustrations, graphics, and stories
