Self-Study

Read the following case description and apply what you have learned in this lesson to it. There are some specific questions after the case description. You can discuss these questions with your classmates via ANGEL in the Lesson 2 Discussion Forum. I will not grade these discussions. However, it may be helpful to begin thinking about these questions now, because they may help you prepare for the tests in the coming weeks.

The staff of the Women’s Resource Center in Smallville has become increasingly concerned about the high levels of unemployment and underemployment and the low earnings of female heads of households in their town. The members of the staff learned that these women were unable to make rent payments, pay utility bills, or provide necessary clothing for their children. They also learned that the existing public programs were ineffective in solving the problems of these women. The staff members have decided to explore the specific needs of the female heads of households and devise new programs if necessary. They have contacted you, an expert in program evaluation, to help them conduct a preliminary study. You agreed.

(Adapted from Freeman, Rossi, & Sandefur. (1993). Workbook for evaluation (5th ed., p. 29). Sage.)

1. How would you determine the appropriate evaluation questions in this study?
2. Who would you interview for this purpose?
3. Who would be the program sponsors?
4. Who would be the stakeholders? How would you identify them?
5. How would you deal with the problems that may arise as results of the sponsors and stakeholders trying to influence the evaluation process?

If you have extra time read Chapters 4 and 5 in Chen’s book Practical Program Evaluation. Then rethink the questions above. Did the information in Chen’s book help you answer them better? How?