Program Evaluation: methods and case studies

305 pages. Posavac and Carey provide a comprehensive, but accessible, introduction to th e field of program evaluation. By adopting a flexible philosophy of evaluation, the authors demonstrate how program evaluation can be applied to answer a wide v ariety of questions in many different settings. Enjoying widespread acceptance, Program Evaluation includes case studies of completed program evaluations and sk etches of the careers of program evaluators to help readers develop an appreciat ion of the applicability of evaluation methods. By viewing program evaluation as a formalization of something that people do all the time and, indeed, find esse ntial, the implicit threat of evaluation is reduced by the authors' approach. Po savac and Carey stress the importance of working with representatives of all gro ups affected by the program, whether they be program staff or managers, recipien ts, or people providing financial or moral support. The Improvement-Focused Mode l of Evaluation can be used to include many people in the evaluation process. Th e authors show that the application of program evaluation serves to contribute t o making society more effective, just, and healthy.…