The Practice of Health Program Evaluation

Second Edition

David Grembowski - University of Washington, USA

Other Titles in:
Health Evaluation | Public Health Program Evaluation

November 2015 | 352 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

Reflecting the latest developments in the field, The Practice of Health Program Evaluation, Second Edition provides readers with effective methods for evaluating health programs and offers expert guidance for collaborating with stakeholders involved in the process. Author David Grembowski explores evaluation as a three-act play: Act I shows evaluators how to work with decision makers and other groups to identify the questions they want answered; Act II covers selecting appropriate evaluation designs to reveal insight about the program’s impacts, cost-effectiveness, and implementation; and Act III discusses making use of the findings. Packed with relevant examples and detailed explanations, the book fully prepares readers to apply research methods in the practice of health program evaluation.

1. Health Program Evaluation: Is It Worth It?

Growth of Health Program Evaluation

Types of Health Program Evaluation

Summary

List of Terms

Study Questions

2. The Evaluation Process as a Three-Act Play

Evaluation as a Three-Act Play

Role of the Evaluator

Evaluation in a Cultural Context

Ethical Issues

Evaluation Standards

Summary

List of Terms

Study Questions

Act I: Asking the Question

3. Developing Evaluation Questions

Step 1: Specify Program Theory

Step 2: Specify Program Objectives

Step 3: Translate Program Theory and Objectives Into Evaluation Questions

Step 4: Select Key Questions

Assessment of Fit

Summary

List of Terms

Study Questions

Act II: Answering the Question; Scene 1: Developing the Evaluation Design to Answer the Questions

4. Evaluation of Program Impacts

Quasi-Experimental Study Designs

Counterfactuals and Experimental Study Designs

Statistical Threats to Validity

Generalizability of Impact Evaluation Results

Evaluation of Impact Designs and Meta-Analysis

Summary

List of Terms

Study Questions

5. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: An Aid to Decision Making

Comparing Program Costs and Effects: The Cost-Effectiveness Ratio

Types of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Steps in Conducting a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Evaluation of Program Effects and Costs

Summary

List of Terms

Study Questions

6. Evaluation of Program Implementation

Types of Evaluation Designs for Answering Implementation Questions

Types of Implementation Questions and Designs for Answering Them

Summary

List of Terms

Study Questions

Act II: Answering the Question; Scenes 2 and 3: Developing the Methods to Carry Out the Design and Conducting the Evaluation

7. Population and Sampling

Step 1: Identify the Target Populations of the Evaluation

Step 2: Identify the Eligible Members of Each Target Population

Step 3: Decide Whether Probability of Nonprobability Sampling is Necessary

Step 4: Choose a Nonprobability Sampling Design for Answering an Evaluation Question

Step 5: Choose a Probability Sampling Design Answering an Evaluation Question

Step 6: Determine Minimum Sample Size Requirements

Step 7: Select the Sample

Summary

List of Terms

Study Questions

8. Measurement and Data Collection

Measurement and Data Collection in Quantitative Evaluations

Data Collection in Qualitative Evaluations

Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Evaluations

Management of Data Collection

Summary

Resources

List of Terms

Study Questions

9. Data Analysis

Introduction

Getting Started: What's the Question?

Qualitative Data Analysis

Quantitative Data Analysis

Summary

List of Terms

Study Questions

Act III: Using the Answers in Decision Making

10. Disseminating the Answers to Evaluation Questions

Scene 1: Translating Evaluation Answers Back Into Policy Language

Scene 2: Developing a Dissemination Plan for Evaluation Answers

Scene 3: Using the Answers in Decision Making and the Policy Cycle

How Answers Are Used by Decision Makers

Summary

List of Terms

Study Questions

11. Epilogue

“I’ve used this textbook with public health graduate students for years, and both the students and I appreciate the practical, organized, accessible approach. . . . [The] Second Edition reflects important developments in the evaluation field . . . [and] is a book that students will want to keep on their bookshelves long after graduating, and will find themselves consulting over the course of their careers.”

Amanda S. Birnbaum

Montclair State University

“This text identifies the key areas facing today’s public health researchers, practitioners, and students.”

Leah Christina Neubauer

DePaul University

Praise for the Previous Edition

“A well-organized and readable text on evaluating health programs. It covers the essentials of choosing an evaluation design, planning and conducting the evaluation, and using the results of the evaluation."

Ronald Andersen

University of California, Los Angeles

"I found many instances where I thought students would get key concepts and ideas more quickly than they would from other texts. I was thrilled to see a discussion of ethics and culture in the text. The author provides clear explanations of important concepts and uses examples throughout the text."

Robin Lin Miller

University of Illinois at Chicago

Still considering this text.

Dr Julie Baldwin

Interdiscipline , Missouri State Univ

November 13, 2015

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