Evaluation Research Analysis

This paper provides an introduction to evaluation praxis with a major focus on completing a small scale evaluation of a social service or health programme. Such roles as consultant, advocate, liaison and technician are part of the skills students experience. Engagement with the client through refining and negotiating an evaluation plan are part of setting up, collecting and analysing information, and presenting the results of the evaluation in the appropriate format(s). Students are expected to be active learners and take the lead responsibility of reporting evaluation progress to the client (which involves undertaking agreed tasks on time and reporting back on them). Emphasis is placed on qualitative methods, collaborative approaches and evaluation as a strategy of incremental social change.