Compare and contrast the more traditional steps in the evaluation process with those believed to be more effective by Kapp and Anderson.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The traditional evaluation steps follow a traditional research process, starting with identifying the evaluation question and ending with utilization of information. They do not involve defining the program or engaging key stakeholders in the evaluation. Kapp and Anderson reframe these steps more broadly for agency-based evaluation, combining the first 4 steps from the traditional model as encompassed in the following 3 activities: defining the program with key stakeholders, supporting evaluation users, and implementing and reporting the design. They then combine the steps for implementing the evaluation into one step (e.g., sample, data collection and analysis), and end with utilization. They define utilization differently as ensuring that program evaluation information is used to improve services. They believe their process usually creates an evaluation that is more attentive to the agency context and the agency’s information needs, and one where information is actually used for program improvement. They also believe this process engages stakeholders more actively, thus creating more ownership for the evaluation and its eventual use.