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Using Systems Concepts to Evaluate the iPlant Collaborative: Quality, Implications, and Benefits
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| Presenter(s):
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| Barbara Heath, East Main Educational Consulting, bheath@emeconline.com
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| Jennifer Young, East Main Educational Consulting, jyoung@emeconline.com
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| Abstract:
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the iPlant Collaborative (iPlant) is a distributed, cyber infrastructure-centered, international community of plant and computing researchers. The goal of iPlant is to bring together the community to (1) identify new conceptual advances through computational thinking and (2) address an evolving array of the most compelling Grand Challenges in the plant sciences and associated, cutting-edge research challenges in the computing sciences. Our presentation intends to describe the systems-based CDE Model (Eoyang, 2007) and its impact on evaluation quality along with resulting implications and benefits in this context. Multiple methodologies are being deployed for data collection and analysis including outcome-based methods and case study.
Eoyang, G. H. (2007). Human Systems Dynamics: Complexity-based Approach to a Complex Evaluation. In Systems Concepts in Evaluation: An Expert Anthology. Bob Williams and Iraj Imam (Eds.). AEA, Point Reyes.
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The iPlant Collaborative: Using Case Study Methodology in a Systems-based Framework
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| Presenter(s):
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| Jennifer Young, East Main Educational Consulting, jyoung@emeconline.com
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| Barbara Heath, East Main Educational Consulting, bheath@emeconline.com
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| Abstract:
The iPlant Collaborative (iPlant) is a distributed, cyber infrastructure-centered, international community of plant and computing researchers. The goal of iPlant is to bring together the community to (1) identify new conceptual advances through computational thinking and (2) address an evolving array of the most compelling Grand Challenges in the plant sciences and associated, cutting-edge research challenges in the computing sciences. Our presentation intends to describe the use of embedded case study within the systems-based CDE Model (Eoyang, 2007). The Grand Challenge team that is the focus of the case study is novel in that it is an interdisciplinary, virtual organization. The study goal is to provide a clear understanding of how the team collaborates to produce community-driven solutions.
Eoyang, G. H. (2007). Human Systems Dynamics: Complexity-based Approach to a Complex Evaluation. In Systems Concepts in Evaluation: An Expert Anthology. Bob Williams and Iraj Imam (Eds.). AEA, Point Reyes.
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Evaluating the Tennessee Lives Count Juvenile Justice Suicide Prevention Project: Strategies for Incorporating System Level Data in Evaluations of Complex Public Health Prevention Programs
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| Presenter(s):
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| Jennifer Lockman, Centerstone Research Institute, jennifer.lockman@centerstoneresearch.org
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| Heather Wilson, Centerstone Research Institute, heather.wilson@centerstoneresearch.org
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| Kathryn A Bowen, Centerstone Research Institute, kathryn.bowen@centerstone.org
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| Abstract:
The Tennessee Lives Count, Youth Suicide Prevention Early Intervention Juvenile Justice Project (TLC-JJ) is a SAMHSA funded statewide initiative to reduce suicide and suicide attempts for youth (ages 10-24). Evaluations of community suicide prevention programs have historically focused on measuring individual level changes in knowledge, attitudes, and helping behaviors adults provide to suicidal youth. However, qualitative analysis of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services incident reports suggest that a “systems” level evaluation may also be appropriate, considering that multiple community organizations often work together to provide a single suicidal youth with appropriate services. Presenters will discuss how systems theory of evaluation is being applied to the TLC-JJ project, and will illustrate how mixed method designs including triangulation of data from state-wide databases may enhance the ability to evaluate system preparedness, resiliency to barriers, and connectedness, as it relates to helping youth at risk for suicide and other symptoms of mental illness.
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