Practical Research-based Information from the Nation's Leading Universities
Evaluation Handbooks, Manuals, and Toolkits
Number of unique resources found: 67
Did you find what you were looking for? If not, try our full text search or let us know by completing our survey form.
Assessment and Evaluation Resources on the Net 
Description: This site contains links to a variety of other assessment and evaluation resources available via the internet.
Federal Government Social Statistics Briefing Room
Description: "The purpose of this service is to provide easy access to current Federal social statistics. It provides links to information produced by a number of Federal agencies..."
Western Michigan University Evaluation Center
Description: Provides resources for those interested in evaluation in the areas of education and the human services.
– Evaluation –
Description: This report, created by the Association for the Study and Development of Community (ASDC), serves as an orientation guide to eleven handbooks and basic primers on program evaluation.
A Guide To Family Intervention and Prevention Program Evaluation
Author: Kaufman Kantor, Glenda; Kendall-Tackett, Kathy
Description: In this guide, the basics of program evaluation are discussed in a sequenced format, with a nod given to family violence prevention and intervention programs.
Description: This website describes components of a logic model and provides an example.
A Participatory Model for Evaluating Social Programs
Author: Hasenfeld, Yeheskel ‘Zeke’ ; Dale Weaver; Katherine Hill
Description: This report describes a unique approach to evaluation that is gaining momentum in the nonprofit sector. Part case study and part instruction guide, this report is intended for use by nonprofits, foundations, and professional evaluators alike.
Description: This website provides a variety of resources and example instruments related to: needs assessments, process, outcome, and impact assessment, and continuous quality improvement.
An Educator's Guide to Evaluating The Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms
Author: Quiñones, Sherri ; Rita Kirshstein
Description: This guide is designed to help you through the technology program evaluation process and to make it as painless as possible. Primarily geared to educators or administrators with little or no research experience, it is intended for use at the district or school level.
An Evaluation Primer on Health Risk Communication Programs and Outcomes
Description: This introductory guide is created for individuals planning or executing evaluations of health risk communication programs and materials. This site provides the materials in English and Spanish.
Basic Guide to Program Evaluation
Author: McNamara, Carter
Description: This reference provides basic guidance for anyone planning and implementing an evaluation process for profit or nonprofit programs.
Beyond Basics: Evaluating Community-Based Programs
Author: Betts, Sherry; Tepper, Karen Hoffman
Description: This curriculum is designed to serve as an intermediate evaluation training for those involved in community-based programming for children, youth and families. Participants in this training should have some basic knowledge of evaluation. The purpose of this training is to build upon that basic knowledge and enable participants to develop improved evaluation skills.
Bureau of Justice Assistance Center for Program Evaluation
Description: The Bureau of Justice Assistance Center for Program Evaluation maintains a website with evaluation information including: evaluation resources, a glossary, and useful links.
Description: This guide to technology program evaluation has been developed into a full suite of resources, tools, and professional development activities designed to assist program and project leaders in collecting and analyzing data they can use in making decisions about the implementation of their projects. The framework's elements can be easily adapted for the evaluation of other types of grants and school improvement initiatives.
Community-Based Project Evaluation Guide
Author: Callor, Suzanne; Marczak, Mary; Carter, Ruth; Betts, Sherry
Description: The Guide, formerly called the State Strengthening Evaluation Guide, has been revised and updated to reflect changes within the CYFAR Program and CYFERnet. The revised edition includes various web sites to assist users in evaluation of their community-based programs. In addition, a new evaluation template has been incorporated.
Evaluation Made Easy: Examples of Practical Evaluations - Empowerment Evaluation
Author: Mead, June; Garcia, Aleta; Tepper, Karen Hoffman
Description: This bulletin includes a brief introduction to a key indicator, a case example of a community-based program making a difference in the indicator highlighted, sample program goals and objectives, description of program intervention, a sample evaluation plan, key evaluation results, reporting hints and other resources.
Evaluation that Goes Beyond the Data
Description: Program evaluation is a process that documents the successes and efforts of outreach programs describing educational or behavioral impacts. Increasingly, educators who work with youth and family programs are asked to document program outcomes. These results have become increasingly important to educators and funders. However, with limited accessible information pertaining to program evaluation, educators are often challenged and frustrated by the need to design and conduct good evaluation. This article describes two accessible interactive Web sites that were designed to provide support to educators designing program evaluations. The first site is designed to assist educators in evaluating parenting education programs, in particular. The second site assists educators in designing effective evaluations for any program. These two Web sites offer educators a self-study opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge to support their program evaluation efforts.
Author: Chinman, Matthew; Pamela Imm; Abraham Wandersman
Description: This guide was created by a team of substance
abuse prevention researchers dedicated to helping community organizations reach positive outcomes through a process of
answering ten questions that contain all the elements needed for successful planning, implementation, and evaluation (PIE).
This manual represents a collaborative effort to synthesize evidence-based knowledge and translate it into evidence-based practice.
Description: Topics addressed in this guide include types of evaluation activities, benefits of evaluation, developing an evaluation plan, logic models, process and impact evaluation, data collection, and reporting and using evaluation results.
Harvard Family Research Project
Description: The Harvard Family Research Project helps philanthropies, policy-makers, and practitioners develop strategies to promote the educational and social success and well-being of children, families, and their communities. HFRP collects, analyzes, and synthesizes research and information to foster continuous improvement and learning.
Improving Evaluation Practice: Best Practice Guidelines for Evaluation
Description: This resource identifies key issues and practices that should be taken into consideration when seeking to improve program evaluations.The guidelines focus on management of evaluation activities in government and management of individual evaluations rather than on methodological questions.
Measuring Program Outcomes: A Practical Approach
Description: This resource is an excerpt of United Way's step-by-step manual that specifies program outcomes, develops measurable indicators, identifies data sources and data collection methods, analyzes and reports findings, and using outcome information. It is especially useful for evaluators of health, human services, and youth- and family-serving agencies.
Measuring the Difference: Guide to Planning and Evaluating Health Information Outreach
Author: Burroughs, Catherine
Description: This guide is a primer (including tools and resources) for planning and evaluating health information programs. It was developed by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region and the National Library of Medicine.
Measuring Youth Program Quality: A Guide to Assessment Tools
Author: Yohalem, Nicole; Marybeth Shinn; Sean Fischer; Alicia Wilson-Ahlstrom
Description: This guide examines nine youth program quality assessment tools. For each tool, the guide provides the purpose and history, content, structure and methodology, technical properties, user considerations, and a brief description of how it are currently being used in the field. It offers guidance to practitioners, policymakers, researchers and evaluators in the after-school and youth development fields as to what options are available and what issues to consider when selecting and using a quality assessment tool.
More Things That Do Make a Difference For Youth: Volume II
Description: This report is the second volume in a compilation of approximately 50 evaluations of youth programmatic interventions.
More Tips: Communicating with Institutional Review Boards Over the Course of Your Project
Author: Peterson, Donna; McDonald, Daniel A.; Betts, Sherry C.
Description: This article focuses on the continuing review process required by Institutional Review Boards. It is a follow-up to a series of recent articles designed to help Extension Professionals navigate the university IRB process. The authors present general guidelines for the continuing review process and offer some issues and tips for success.
Author: Betts, Sherry; McDonald, Daniel A.; Peterson, Donna J.
Description: This article describes issues and tips for success when working with more than one Institutional Review Board at a time regarding one project. It is a follow-up to a series of articles designed to help Extension professionals navigate the university IRB process.
On-Line Evaluation Resource Library
Description: This resource was developed for professionals seeking to design, conduct, document, or review project evaluations. It makes available evaluation plans, instruments, and reports for National Science Foundation projects that can be used as examples.
Online Evaluation Resource Library
Description: The Online Evaluation Resource Library (OERL) is meant for professionals seeking to design, conduct, document, or review project evaluations. OERL is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Penn State Cooperative Extension Program Evaluation Resources
Author: Kiernan, Nancy
Description: This site contains information on designing and implementing an effective program evaluation, with more than 60 tip-sheets of helpful, easy-to-read information about designing a practical evaluation from beginning to end.
Author: Taylor-Powell, Ellen; Mohammad Douglah; Sara Steele
Description: These easy-to-use guides are designed to help Extension faculty plan and implement credible and useful evaluations.
Practical Evaluation of Public Health Programs
Description: This workbook, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, defines program evaluation in practical terms, explain the importance of evaluation in the current public health environment and why evaluation is important in your program.
Author: Ogborne, Alan
Description: This workbook from the World Health Organization focuses on the principles and methods of process evaluation. It also includes several case examples and a how-to section.
Program Development and Evaluation Homepage
Author: Taylor-Powell, Ellen
Description: The Program Development and Evaluation Website from University of Wisconsin Extension offers links to information, training and technical assistance to assist in planning, implementation and evaluation of high quality educational programs.
Program Development for Parenting Education Interactive Program Evaluation Development Site
Author: DeBord, Karen
Description: An interactive website with easy to follow directions on program evaluation.
Program Evaluation: A Five-Hour Training Curriculum
Author: Betts, Sherry; Peterson, Donna; Jakes, Susan; Marczak, Mary
Description: This curriculum was designed to be a basic evaluation training for those involved in community-based programming for children, youth and families. It is based on a two-day training given at the CYFAR (Children, Youth and Families At Risk) 2000 Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Program Evaluation: Measuring the Impact of Active Aging Programs
Description: This publication offers a step-by-step approach to evaluation that can be easily applied to other programs.
Program Managers Guide to Evaluation
Description: This resource explains program evaluation -what it is, how to understand it, and how to do it. It also provides answers questions about evaluation and explains how to use evaluation to improve programs and benefit staff and families.
Results Oriented Monitoring and Evaluation
Description: This resource provides a comprehensive guide to the monitoring and evaluation of development programs.
Description: SAMMIE stands for Successful Assessment Methods and Measurement In Evaluation and is a one stop site on the web that links you to numerous resources. Through SAMMIE you can access resources on 22 evaluation-related topics; read the best literature on the web related to program evaluation; ask an expert your questions about program evaluation; and develop a personalized program evaluation plan.
Taking Stock: A Practical Guide to Evaluating Your Own Programs
Author: Bond, Sally L.; Kathleen A. Rapp; Sally E. Boyd
Description: This resource provides how-to guidelines for conducting participatory, internal evaluations in community-based organizations.
Targeting Outcomes of Programs
Author: Rockwell, Kay; Bennett, Claude
Description: Targeting Outcomes of Programs (TOP) focuses on outcomes in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs. TOP is based on a hierarchy that integrates program evaluation within the program development process. TOP uses this simple framework to target specific outcomes in program development and then to assess the degree to which the outcome targets are reached.
The 2002 User Friendly Handbook for Project Evaluation
Author: Frechtling, Joy
Description: This publication serves as a guide for evaluating the National Science Foundation's educational programs. It discusses both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods.
The Handbook for Evaluating HIV Education
Description: This handbook includes evaluation designs and measurement tools necessary to collect data on the basic program components of policy development, curriculum design, teacher training, and student outcomes.
Understanding Evaluation -- The Way to Better Prevention Programs
Author: Muraskin, Lana D.
Description: This handbook provides guidelines for designing and implementing evaluations of drug prevention programs.
University of Wisconsin-Extension: Program Development and Evaluation
Description: This website includes program development and evaluation resources developed by the University of Wisconsin-Extension Cooperative Extension Program Development and Evaluation Unit.
User's Guide to Evaluation for National Service Programs
Description: This evaluation guide is is widely applicable to beginners conducting internal evaluations of a service program. The guide is designed to assist programs by addressing four key priority areas: education, public safety, human needs, and environment.
User-Friendly Handbook for Mixed-Method Evaluations
Author: Frechtling, Joy; Laure Sharp
Description: This handbook provides guidelines for designing and conducting evaluation. It focuses on integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques for outcome evaluations that are practical rather than technically sophisticated.
User-Friendly Handbook for Project Evaluation
Author: Frechtling, Joy; Gerunda Hughes; Stafford Hood; Henry Frierson
Description: This handbook discusses quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods and suggests ways they can be used together in project evaluation.
W. K. Kellogg Foundation Program Evaluation Toolkit
Description: This website includes program evaluation resources developed by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation's Evaluation Unit.
– General Information –
Evaluation Challenges Module 1: Getting Answers
Author: Shackman, Gene
Description: How to answer questions concerning the outcomes of a program
Evaluation Challenges Module 2: Getting information useful to you
Author: Shackman, Gene
Description: Making use of people involved in the program to obtain information for the program evaluation
Framework for Program Evaluation
Description: This website details the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's steps to evaluation and standards for effective evaluation in public health.
Harvard Family Research Project
Description: The Harvard Family Research Project helps philanthropies, policy-makers, and practitioners develop strategies to promote the educational and social success and well-being of children, families, and their communities. HFRP collects, analyzes, and synthesizes research and information to foster continuous improvement and learning.
More Tips: Communicating with Institutional Review Boards Over the Course of Your Project
Author: Peterson, Donna; McDonald, Daniel A.; Betts, Sherry C.
Description: This article focuses on the continuing review process required by Institutional Review Boards. It is a follow-up to a series of recent articles designed to help Extension Professionals navigate the university IRB process.
Penn State Cooperative Extension Program Evaluation Resources
Author: Kiernan, Nancy
Description: This site contains information on designing and implementing an effective program evaluation, with more than 60 tip-sheets of helpful, easy-to-read information about designing a practical evaluation from beginning to end.
Sustaining Community Projects: Logic Model Construction and Implementation
Author: Marek, Lydia; McDonald, Dan A.; Peterson, Donna J., Mancini, Jay A.; Betts, Sherry C.
Description: This powerpoint presentation (originally used in a recent Breeze conference) describes the process of constructing logic models for Sustainable Community Projects. Five components of a logic model are described.
Targeting Outcomes of Programs
Author: Rockwell, Kay; Bennett, Claude
Description: Targeting Outcomes of Programs (TOP) focuses on outcomes in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs. TOP is based on a hierarchy that integrates program evaluation within the program development process. TOP uses this simple framework to target specific outcomes in program development and then to assess the degree to which the outcome targets are reached.
Utilization-Focused Evaluation Checklist
Author: Patton, Michael
Description: This is a site that outlines some of the primary tasks of utilization focused evaluation and the underlying premises of those tasks.
Author: Martin, Sally; Brown, Randy; Weigel, Dan
Description: This article discusses the issue of obtaining consent and review by Institutional Review Boards.
Author: Brown, Randy; Weigel, Dan; Martin, Sally
Description: This article discusses challenges associated with recruiting participants and provides tips for preparing an IRB proposal.
Author: Weigel, Dan; Brown, Randy; Martin, Sally
Description: This article discusses the issues of risks and benefits associated with a research project and review by Institutional Review Boards.
What Cooperative Extension Professionals Needs to Know About Institutional Review Boards
Author: Weigel, Dan; Martin, Sally; Brown, Randy
Description: This article is an introduction to the purpose and procedures of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs).
What is Program Evaluation? Module 2: The Evaluation Question
Author: Shackman, Gene
Description: Explains the helpfulness of using a program’s logic model ,or program theory, to develop evaluation questions.
Who Are the Question-makers? A Participatory Evaluation Handbook
Description: This handbook provides some basic information on designing participatory evaluations and includes an overview of some of the essential steps involved.
– Professional Development –
A Guide To Family Intervention and Prevention Program Evaluation
Author: Kaufman Kantor, Glenda; Kendall-Tackett, Kathy
Description: In this guide, the basics of program evaluation are discussed in a sequenced format, with a nod given to family violence prevention and intervention programs.
Articulating Program Results: Using Logic Models to Identify Success
Author: Marek, Lydia
Description: Of primary importance in developing logic models is establishing and maintaining a focus on results rather than on activities. Logic models allow program professionals to clearly articulate what needs to be accomplished in their program. Understanding how a program achieves results is critical to determine if program elements should be modified and provide stakeholders with evidence that the program is effective. Logic models help program professionals, evaluators and stakeholders reach consensus about which elements are essential to the program and consequently program professionals and researchers are more able to identify faulty or implausible links early on.
Beyond Basics: Evaluating Community-Based Programs
Author: Betts, Sherry; Tepper, Karen Hoffman
Description: This curriculum is designed to serve as an intermediate evaluation training for those involved in community-based programming for children, youth and families. Participants in this training should have some basic knowledge of evaluation. The purpose of this training is to build upon that basic knowledge and enable participants to develop improved evaluation skills.
Family Resiliency Interactive Program Evaluation Development Site
Author: DeBord, Karen
Description: Good evaluation for any program comes from good program planning. The Extension Parenting Evaluation Decision Framework is an interactive program planning tool that allows you to step through a total process. The total model includes 10 steps. You should plan about 20-30 minutes of time to work through all the steps. The authors of the original document and the creators of this interactive site hope you will find this a learning and thought provoking experience.
Program Evaluation: A Five-Hour Training Curriculum
Author: Betts, Sherry; Peterson, Donna; Jakes, Susan; Marczak, Mary
Description: This curriculum was designed to be a basic evaluation training for those involved in community-based programming for children, youth and families. It is based on a two-day training given at the CYFAR (Children, Youth and Families At Risk) 2000 Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Using Logic Models in Program Evaluation
Author: Barkman, Susan; Stuart, Marta Elva; Kutara, Pamela
Description: The Logic Model is an easy to understand and user-friendly tool that help professionals see the link between program design and evaluation. It provides a picture of how a program works - the theory and assumptions underlying the program. A logic model serves as a road-map for a program, outlining how it is expected to work, what activities need to come before others, and how desired outcomes are achieved. In simple terms, it gives a visual picture of what inputs and outputs are needed to achieve the desired outcomes.
– Programming Resource –
Beyond Basics: Evaluating Community-Based Programs
Author: Betts, Sherry; Tepper, Karen Hoffman
Description: This curriculum is designed to serve as an intermediate evaluation training for those involved in community-based programming for children, youth and families. Participants in this training should have some basic knowledge of evaluation. The purpose of this training is to build upon that basic knowledge and enable participants to develop improved evaluation skills.
Community-Based Project Evaluation Guide
Author: Callor, Suzanne; Marczak, Mary; Carter, Ruth; Betts, Sherry
Description: The Guide, formerly called the State Strengthening Evaluation Guide, has been revised and updated to reflect changes within the CYFAR Program and CYFERnet. The revised edition includes various web sites to assist users in evaluation of their community-based programs. In addition, a new evaluation template has been incorporated.
Program Development for Parenting Education Interactive Program Evaluation Development Site
Author: DeBord, Karen
Description: An interactive website with easy to follow directions on program evaluation.
Program Evaluation: A Five-Hour Training Curriculum
Author: Betts, Sherry; Peterson, Donna; Jakes, Susan; Marczak, Mary
Description: This curriculum was designed to be a basic evaluation training for those involved in community-based programming for children, youth and families. It is based on a two-day training given at the CYFAR (Children, Youth and Families At Risk) 2000 Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.
– Research –
Community-based Program Research: Context, Program Readiness, and Evaluation Usefulness
Author: Mancini, Jay; Huebner, Angela J.; Byrne, Richard, A. W.; Marek, Lydia I.
Description: This link is to a journal article abstract published by members of the CYFERnet Evaluation Team that focuses on partnerships in evaluating community-based programs. Contact information for obtaining the article is provided.
- More about "Community-based Program Research: Context, Program Readiness, and Evaluation Usefulness"
Evaluation Science and Family Therapy
Author: Mancini, Jay; Marek, Lydia I.; McCollum, E; Huebner, Angela J.
Description: This link is to a book chapter abstract published by members of the CYFERnet Evaluation Team that focuses on program evaluation science and family interventions. Contact information for obtaining the chapter is provided.