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An Examination of the State and Quality of Monitoring and Tracking (M&T) for Contemporary Program Evaluation
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| Presenter(s):
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| Antionette Stroter, University of Iowa, a-stroter@uiowa.edu
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| Douglas Grane, University of Iowa, douglas-grane@uiowa.edu
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| Abstract:
Monitoring and Tracking (M & T) is an integral yet overlooked component of evaluation. While evaluators have much experiential knowledge about M &T, the profession lacks the profession lacks research, empirical studies, and peer reviewed literature on M&T. We examine the state of M & T through the following objectives 1) conceptualizing M &T, 2) examining the use of M&T in different program contexts, 3) investigating how M&T meets evaluation purposes, 4) understanding M&T’s role in program implementation, and 5) exploring the effects of M&T on decision making processes. We conduct document analysis using ATLAS.ti for 1909 articles in the American Journal of Evaluation, New Directions for Evaluation, Evaluation and Program Planning, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation , Evaluation, and Studies in Educational Evaluation and transcripts from interviews with evaluation thought leaders. We find that quality M & T varies substantially between and within programs overtime.
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Inquiry on the State of Evaluation Practice, Experience, and Use in Kenya
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| Presenter(s):
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| Douglas Grane, University of Iowa, douglas-grane@uiowa.edu
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| Karen Odhiambo, University of Nairobi, karenodhiambo1@yahoo.co.uk
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| Abstract:
While most evaluation theories and scholarship originate from the perspectives of evaluators working in or based out of countries in the Global North such as the U.S., evaluation professionals in countries in the Global South carryout substantial evaluation work. Evaluation is an integral part of international development programs and projects in Kenya. Additionally, Kenyan government and non-governmental programs also integrate evaluation into their activities. Kenya has an active local community of evaluators, is home to the Kenya Evaluation Association, and Kenyan evaluators play active roles in international evaluation organizations such as the African Evaluation Association (AfrEA). This paper explores practices, uses, highlights, and challenges of evaluation in Kenya. We use document analysis of interview transcripts with Kenyan evaluators and evaluation stakeholders to represent the current state of evaluation in Kenya. This paper provides an opportunity to develop new evaluation theories incorporating the experiences of evaluators from the Global South.
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The Role of Program Evaluation in Improving and Sustaining State-Supported School Counseling Programs: A Cross Case Analysis of Best Practices
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| Presenter(s):
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| Ian Martin, University of San Diego, imartin@sandiego.edu
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| Abstract:
Recent work has shown that many state-supported school counseling programs across the United States have not developed working statewide evaluation schemas. This study examined two exemplary examples of state level school counseling program evaluation. Mixed-method case studies were created and then analyzed across cases to reveal common themes and best practices. The findings indicated that these cases were able to build evaluation capacity within very different contexts. Implications for increasing evaluation capacity and use within other state-supported school counseling programs were discussed.
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