Program Evaluation Resources and Links

Tools

User Friendly Handbook for Project Evaluation (NSF Publication) - Handbook was developed to provide managers working with the National Science Foundation (NSF) with a basic guide for the evaluation of NSF’s educational programs.

Evaluation Handbook (W.K. Kellogg Foundation) - This handbook is guided by the belief that evaluation should be supportive and responsive to projects, rather than become an end in itself. It provides a framework for thinking about evaluation as a relevant and useful program tool. It is written primarily for project directors who have direct responsibility for the ongoing evaluation of W.K. Kellogg Foundation-funded projects.

Evaluation Publications - These publications are currently available for evaluating Extension programs. They are practical, easy-to-use guides designed to help Extension faculty better plan and implement credible and useful evaluations. They also may be useful to agencies or funders who are seeking assistance with realistic evaluation strategies.

Developing and Using Questionnaires (download .pdf) - The purpose of this methodology transfer paper is to provide evaluators with a background that is of sufficient depth to use questionnaires in their evaluations. Specifically, this paper provides rationales for determining when questionnaires should be used to accomplish assignment objectives. It also describes how to plan, design, and use a questionnaire in conducting a population survey. We hope that evaluators will become familiar enough with questionnaire design guidelines to plan and use a questionnaire; to make preliminary designs and assist in many development and testing tasks; to communicate the questionnaire requirements to the measurement, sampling, and statistical analysis experts; and to ensure the quality of the final questionnaire and the resulting data collection.

Performance Measurement and Evaluation (download .pdf) – GAO definitions.

Program Evaluation: Strategies for Assessing How Information Dissemination Contributes to Agency Goals (download .pdf) – GAO report. “Federal agencies are increasingly expected to focus on achieving results and to demonstrate, in annual performance reports and budget requests, how their activities will help achieve agency or government-wide goals.”

SurveyMonkey – SurveyMonkey has a single purpose: to enable anyone to create professional online surveys quickly and easily.

Statistics

Random Number Table (download .pdf) - The random number tables are composed of the digits from 0 through 9, with approximately equal frequency of occurrence.

Sample Size Calculator - This Sample Size Calculator is presented as a public service of Creative Research Systems. You can use it to determine how many people you need to interview in order to get results that reflect the target population as precisely as needed. You can also find the level of precision you have in an existing sample.

Sample Size Calculator - This Sample Size Calculator is presented by Raosoft

Online Analysis of Data - This site at ASU.EDU provides statistical analysis tools.

VassarStats – VassarStats is a useful and user-friendly tool for performing statistical computation. Each of the links in white text in the panel on the left will show an annotated list of the statistical procedures available under that rubric.

Statistics to use - This statistical site from College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University

Statistical Significance – Statistical significance explained.

Z-Chart – Standard Normal Distribution chart

Working with Z-scores and Normal Probabilities – Normal Probability Calculation Demonstrations from Seeing Statistics by Gary H. McClelland University of Colorado, Boulder

Organizations

AEA (American Evaluation Association) - The American Evaluation Association is an international professional association of evaluators devoted to the application and exploration of program evaluation, personnel evaluation, technology, and many other forms of evaluation. Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products, and organizations to improve their effectiveness. AEA has approximately 5000 members representing all 50 states in the US as well as over 60 foreign countries.

MentorNet's – MentorNet’s evaluation and research program is multi-faceted, including annual evaluations and specialized evaluation studies that focus on both formative and summative aspects of MentorNet. Our evaluations are particularly designed to continue to improve our programs, and to assess early indications of outcomes.

Government

Executive Branch Management Scorecard – Departmental summary of management performance.

Management and Program Analysis Series, GS-0343 - This series includes positions that primarily serve as analysts and advisors to management on the evaluation of the effectiveness of government programs and operations or the productivity and efficiency of the management of Federal agencies or both.

U.S. Census – US Government statistics.

Bureau of Economic Analysis – US Government statistics.

Energy Information Administration – US Government statistics.

Bureau of Labor Statistics – US Government statistics.

FedStats – US Government statistics.

UN Statistics – UN world-wide statistics.