Program Evaluation is the systematic collection of information about the activities, characteristics, and results of programs to make judgments about the merit, worth, and significance of the program, improve or further develop program effectiveness, inform decisions about future programming, and/or increase understanding. (Patton, 2021)
Resources developed by the University of Wisconsin Extension.
Evaluation can be designed and implemented through a variety of approaches depending on evaluation purposes and uses. Robust evaluation requires effective planning, method selection, analysis and use.
Evaluation 101: You will learn about program evaluation and why it is needed, along with some helpful frameworks that place evaluation in the broader evidence context. Other resources provide helpful overviews of specific types of evaluation you may encounter or be considering, including implementation, outcome, and impact evaluations, and rapid cycle approaches.
The Community Tool Box: A Framework for Program Evaluation: Discusses why evaluations are important, actions essential to any evaluation, and standards for developing a strong program evaluation. Offers examples of evaluation use.
American Evaluation Association: A professional association of evaluators devoted to the application and exploration of evaluation as a profession.
Guiding Principles for Evaluators: The Guiding Principles reflect the core values of the AEA and are intended as a guide to the professional ethical conduct of evaluators.