The Third Edition of Arlene Fink’s Evaluation Fundamentals teaches the basic concepts and vocabulary necessary to do program evaluations and review the quality of evaluation research to make informed decisions about methods and outcomes to meet scientific and community needs. Dr. Fink thoroughly examines such issues as how to justify evaluation questions and set standards of effectiveness, design studies, identify best practices, and conduct ethical research. The book contains numerous examples of evaluation methods, as well as evaluation reports. It also includes practice exercises and suggested readings in print and online. Individuals can use the New Edition successfully on their own or in small or large groups. “The text is extremely well organized. . . The concepts are easy to follow and the explanations are excellent.” —Sharon K. Drake, Iowa State University “Dr. Fink did an outstanding job of introducing concepts and practice of program evaluation in a way that anyone can understand. Those who are interested in program evaluation will enjoy this book regardless of their field of study.” —Young Ik Cho, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee “The key strength of this book is the introduction of the key concepts, terms, and considerations that are needed for an evaluation study. These introductions are concise, understandable, and in logical order.” —Richard C. Maurer, University of Kentucky

Arlene Fink outlines the basic concepts & vocabulary necessary for programme evaluation & illustrates how to review the quality of evaluation research so as to make informed decisions about methods & outcomes.

Providing state-of-the-art perspectives on what evaluation is, its purpose, and how to ensure it is done well, this book brings together major evaluation researchers from a variety of social and behavioral science disciplines. Each chapter identifies a fundamental issue facing the field today; considers its implications for theory, method, practice, or the profession; and explores one or more approaches to dealing with the issue. Among the topics addressed are the nature of expertise in evaluation, how to build a better evidence base for evaluation theory, promoting cultural competence in evaluation, how to synthesize evaluation research findings, ways to involve stakeholders in decision making, and much more.

This book will provide a basis for an introductory course in the formation evaluation. It is designed to be supplemented by problems to point out the important concepts.

Designed to help students learn how to assess clients, conduct treatment planning, and evaluate client outcomes, this practical book addresses specific CACREP competencies. Incorporating case studies and examples, authors Joshua C. Watson and Brandé Flamez provide foundational knowledge for sound formal and informal assessments, cover ethical and legal considerations in assessment, describe basic statistical concepts, highlight the domains in which assessments are commonly used (intelligence, aptitude, achievement, personality, career, etc.), and provide strategies for integrating assessment data when working with clients. Counseling Assessment and Evaluation is part of the SAGE Counseling and Professional Identity Series, which targets specific competencies identified by CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs).

Organized by region, this text provides the fundamentals of evaluation and examination techniques of the musculoskeletal system. Each region begins with step-by-step instructions for goniometry, manual muscle testing, muscle length, joint accessory motions and special orthopedic tests. Special discussions of posture and gait analysis are also included. New in this edition is a chapter on Assessment of Pain. The discussion on the Spine has been expanded to three chapters -- Cervical, Thoracolumbar Spine and Sacroiliac Joint. Compatibility: BlackBerry® OS 4.1 or Higher / iPhone/iPod Touch 2.0 or Higher /Palm OS 3.5 or higher / Palm Pre Classic / Symbian S60, 3rd edition (Nokia) / Windows Mobile™ Pocket PC (all versions) / Windows Mobile Smartphone / Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP/Vista/Tablet PC

Test Development: Fundamentals for Certification and Evaluation provides practical guidelines for the classical approach to test development – specifically for certification and credentialing. Most of the existing high-quality books on the topic of criterion-referenced test (CRT) development are written for professional statisticians and psychometricians. And the books written for the general reader tend to lack accurate, user-friendly coverage of some of the most critical topics. This book serves as an accessible resource on test development that does not require any technical background or expertise. Part I, Conceptual Principles, covers the process of CRT development in narrative form. Some of the topics covered include: defining content domain as related to job analysis and assessment objectives item writing and scoring understanding validity and reliability conducting item analysis defining and differentiating the major standard setting method preparing for and understanding issues with test administration. Part II, the Technical Appendix, contains the computational instructions and supplementary background material. This do-it-yourself manual is a valuable resource for training program developers, credential program developers, as well as other relevant human resources personnel and upper management who need to be on board for change management related to testing programs.

The concepts of planning and assessment are intrinsically linked—and understanding them is essential for raising the library’s profile and strengthening its position among stakeholders and the community. Even if you're an LIS student or are new to the profession, or if planning or assessment are not your primary areas of responsibility, you still have a role to play in the success of organizational efforts. Fleming-May has more than a decade of experience in planning and assessment initiatives and instruction, and Mays was her institution’s first assessment librarian; their primer draws from theory, research, and their first-hand observations to illuminate such topics as characteristics of bad planning strategy that can help to illustrate a better approach; reasons why using economic models, like ROI, fall short; how to mix the three types of planning; guidelines to ensure that assessment is meaningful and actionable; tips for creating effective surveys; emphasizing users’ needs with a critical assessment framework; data analysis for surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observation; four questions to ask about audience level before you develop a report; a sample 3-year assessment plan that can be customized; and seven steps for developing a culture of ongoing assessment.

Developmental evaluation (DE) offers a powerful approach to monitoring and supporting social innovations by working in partnership with program decision makers. In this book, eminent authority Michael Quinn Patton shows how to conduct evaluations within a DE framework. Patton draws on insights about complex dynamic systems, uncertainty, nonlinearity, and emergence. He illustrates how DE can be used for a range of purposes: ongoing program development, adapting effective principles of practice to local contexts, generating innovations and taking them to scale, and facilitating rapid response in crisis situations. Students and practicing evaluators will appreciate the book's extensive case examples and stories, cartoons, clear writing style, "closer look" sidebars, and summary tables. Provided is essential guidance for making evaluations useful, practical, and credible in support of social change.

Using an original framework, this practical introduction to evaluation shows how to identify appropriate forms and approaches, involve stakeholders in the planning process and disseminate the evaluation findings.