| Roundtable: Enhancing Evaluation Quality in a Developing Context: A South African Case Study |
| Roundtable Presentation 333 to be held in GOLIAD on Thursday, Nov 11, 3:35 PM to 4:20 PM |
| Sponsored by the Social Work TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Willem Roestenburg, University of Johannesburg, wimr@uj.ac.za |
| Emmerentie Oliphant, Afri.Yze Consult (Pty) Ltd, et_ol@hotmail.com |
| Abstract: Evaluation practice is in its infancy in South African Social Work Service delivery. Evaluation requirements in research briefs from this context remain weak in detail and lack clear specification. The authors conducted a research project that would be the first step in the evaluation of a Governmental program for youth in conflict with the law. The brief was to assess changes in youth crime profiles over two time periods and the extent to which a range of diversion programs were effective in changing youth perceptions about crime and behavioral intentions towards a crime free life. This project presented with a number of contextual, financial and logistical challenges to evaluation quality. This paper demonstrates how the authors overcame these challenges by rigorous conceptualization, formulation, structural and methodological strategies to conduct the project in such a way that higher levels of beauty, truth and justice were achieved than originally required. |