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Techniques for Successful Longitudinal Street Outreach Evaluations
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| Presenter(s):
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| Jeanine Hanna, Advocates for Human Potential Inc, jhanna@ahpnet.com
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| Abstract:
Maintaining follow-up rates, a key component to any longitudinal evaluation, is discussed frequently in evaluation literature. However, achieving successful follow-up rates within the context of a street outreach programs can be especially problematic and is deserving of special attention. Meaningful evaluations of street outreach programs must adapt to the unique program structure and transient nature of the population being served. This presentation will include 1) a discussion of the characteristics of street outreach programs that pose particular difficulties for evaluators, including the transient nature of the homeless population; 2) how traditional follow-up techniques are limited in scope; and 3) suggest techniques for maintaining high follow-up rates for evaluations of street outreach programs, such as, maintaining frequent contact with the street outreach team and periodic visits to local shelters and other places visited frequently by the target population.
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Using Participatory Evaluation to Enhance Collaboration: Changing Evaluation Strategies at the Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence-Southeast (COSEE-SE)
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| Presenter(s):
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| Jonathan Rauh, University of South Carolina, wjrauh@gmail.com
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| Ching Ching Yap, Savannah College of Art and Design, ccyap@mailbox.sc.edu
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| Abstract:
With increased emphasis in science education, many professional development programs focus on involving research and applied scientists in the curriculum delivery process. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence-Southeast (COSEE-SE) is a regional site of COSEE. COSEE-SE offers such professional development programs to facilitate collaboration between research scientists and science educators to improve ocean science literacy of diverse populations. Traditionally, COSEE-SE utilized participant-observer model to evaluate the effectiveness of the collaborative nature of those professional development programs. Although positive feedback and evaluation results were obtained, limited diagnostic information regarding collaboration strategies was available to inform collaboration between scientists and educators. With the intent to gain additional insights regarding effective collaboration strategies in this context, this study employs participatory evaluation. By using this approach, relevant stakeholders are engaged throughout the evaluation process to continuously examine the effectiveness of collaboration strategies.
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Individual vs. Nvivo: A Comparative Analysis of Qualitative Analysis Methodologies
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| Presenter(s):
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| Jennifer May, University of South Carolina, jennygusmay@yahoo.com
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| Robert Petrulis, University of South Carolina, petrulis@mailbox.sc.edu
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| Abstract:
Many universities provide access to NVivo software to assist in the analysis of qualitative data. The experience of working with qualitative data led this researcher to ask in what ways the use of qualitative analysis software might influence analysis results. Does NVivo change researchers' perceptions and analysis of the data, and if so, how?
This study systematically compares research summaries of qualitative data written by several qualitative researcher-participants with varying degrees of experience. Researchers were assigned to a research methodology group: NVivo, or manual analysis. After analyzing one transcript using their assigned methodology, researchers analyzed a second transcript using the alternative method. All researcher-participants received training for the NVivo program, and were directed to analyze transcripts for the same purpose. Summaries were then compared to determine if a difference regarding the content reported or excluded exists between methods of analysis. Interviews were conducted to obtain insight regarding researchers' perceptions of data analysis procedures.
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