Health Care Introduction to Evaluation Research

Evaluation Research is a vital aspect of organizational and program establishment and development. Used extensively across multiple industries, Evaluation Research encompasses dozens of methods, some of which overlap and/or encompass other methods. Though the methods vary, they ideally share the common characteristics of good basic research, systematic processes, data collection to increase knowledge, enhancement of decision making, and practical use of evaluation findings. In addition, despite the variations of methods, there are basic steps that can be followed in order to conduct an effective evaluation of an organization or program.

Evaluation Research "Snapshot"

Evaluation Research has been variously defined as a unique method of applied/action research, a social applied/action research method of evaluation, or a unique method of assessing programs (Powell, 2006). These definitions apparently depend on the focus of the definer. However, regardless of the definition, all Evaluation Research apparently has common elements: it is a systematic process; it entails data collection regarding resources, services, processes, programs and organizations; it is used to amass knowledge and enhance decision making; it is intended to have practical uses; it is supposed to use the careful and rigorous practices of good basic research (Powell, 2006). Unlike pure research, Evaluation research has a specific purpose involving the potential for some action and it involves an ongoing and dynamic dialogue among the organization, the program and users in order to continually monitor, diagnose and change or even end the program, as needed. The importance of Evaluation Research is underscored by the numerous resources provided by organizations such as the Center for Disease Control for evaluating youth-oriented programs addressing such topics as smoking, asthma, HIV, nutrition and physical activity (Center for Disease Control, 2011).

Given the broad common elements of Evaluation Research, its application to and benefits for many types of organizations are obvious. Generally, an organization uses Evaluation Research to: explain its purpose and methods; define its history; determine program goals; avoid and/or correct mistakes; give feedback to its staff; increase its efficiency; provide bases and support for its planning and decisions, including but not limited to whether the program...

In sum, Evaluation Research ideally assists an organization in assessing and improving every aspect of a program, from start to finish.
Due to the large numbers and varied types of organizations that may use Evaluation Research, numerous methods of Evaluation Research have been developed. According to Powell, approximately 42 approaches/models are described by one expert, alone (Powell, 2006). Powell's article briefly describes some of the more common methods of Evaluation Research, including: input measurement; output measurement; impact assessment; benchmarking; standards; quantitative evaluation; qualitative evaluation; cost analysis; and organization effectiveness. The Input Measurement method of Evaluation Research is the most traditional approach, which is limited in its usefulness because it merely measures the resources of an organization (Powell, 2006). Output Measurement, also known as Performance Measurement, assesses the accomplishments of some activity, such as effectiveness in accomplishing its goals, user satisfaction, and use of facilities/equipment (Powell, 2006). Impact Assessment, also known as Outcomes Assessment, assesses the benefits of the organization's products/services on the clients who are served by the program (Powell, 2006), and is generally measured by Service Quality (the difference between the client's expectations and his/her perceptions of the actual performance), or Process Evaluation ("looking at how something happens rather than or in addition to examining outputs and outcomes" (Powell, 2006). The Benchmarking Method of Evaluation Research, one of the more recent approaches, assesses "total quality management" by analyzing an organization's points of comparison against externally established criteria set by gathering data from organizations in the same field (Powell, 2006). The Standards Method (Scriven, 1991, p. 5) assesses an organization according to guidelines developed by a group of experts in that organization's field (Powell, 2006). The Quantitative Evaluation Method (Scriven, 1991, p. 60) assesses an organization through measuring numeric variables and includes many of the methods already discussed and is considered relatively objective…