Week 9: Process Evaluation

Process evaluation ensures that a program is implemented as intended—which is critical for successful adoption of evidence-based practice. Process evaluation can help explain why there are differences among outcomes in programs or practice models. They might reveal difference in the education and training of providers of the service, in characteristics of the participants in the program, or in length and frequency of therapy sessions, among other things.

 

Because a large proportion of process evaluation utilizes qualitative research, you examine the process of qualitative data analysis and the reporting of results of such analysis, you apply process evaluation reporting techniques to improve upon a qualitative research report, and you create a process evaluation plan.

 

Learning Objectives

 

Students will:

 

· Compare process evaluation reports

 

· Generate a process evaluation plan

 

Learning Resources

 

Required Readings

 

Dudley, J. R. (2020). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do (3rd ed.) Oxford University Press.

 

· Chapter 8, “Improving How Programs and Practice Work” (pp. 171–208)

 

Becker, L. A. (1999). Statistical and clinical significance. Retrieved from https://www.uccs.edu/lbecker/clinsig

 

Man-Son-Hing, M., Laupacis, A., O’Rourke, K., Molnar, F. J., Mahon, J., Chan, K. B., & Wells, G. (2002). Determination of the clinical importance of study results. Journal of general internal medicine, 17(6), 469-476. 

 

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].

 

Read the following section:

 

· “Social Work Research: Qualitative Groups” (pp. 68–69)

 

Document: Bliss, M. J., & Emshoff, J. G. (2002). Workbook for designing a process evaluation. Retrieved from http://beta.roadsafetyevaluation.com/evaluationguides/info/workbook-for-designing-a-process-evaluation.pdf (PDF)

 

Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health.

 

Optional Resources

 

QSR International. (n. d.). NVivo 10. Retrieved October 17, 2013, from http://www.qsrinternational.com/products_nvivo.aspx

 

Use this webpage to view a demonstration of how qualitative data analysis can be assisted by software. You may explore any of the demos, but it is recommended that you start with NVivo eDemo. In order to view this demo, you will need to register, and download (or enable) the latest Adobe Flash Player.

 

Examples of Process Evaluation

 

Boyce, C., & Neale, P. (2006). Conducting in-depth interviews: A guide for designing and conducting in-depth interviews for evaluation input. Pathfinder International Tool Series: Monitoring and Evaluation – 2. Retrieved from http://www.cpc.unc.edu/measure/training/materials/data-quality-portuguese/m_e_tool_series_indepth_interviews.pdf

 

Hesselink, A. E., & Harting, J. (2011). Process evaluation of a multiple risk factor perinatal programme for a hard-to-reach minority group. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(9), 2026–2037.

 

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

Lee, E., Esaki, N., & Greene, R. (2009). Collocation: Integrating child welfare and substance abuse services. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 9(1), 55–70.

 

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

Maxwell, N., Scourfield, J., Holland, S., Featherstone, B., & Lee, J. (2012). The benefits and challenges of training child protection social workers in father engagement. Child Abuse Review, 21(4), 299–310.

 

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

Assignment: Drafting a Process Evaluation

 

The steps for process evaluation outlined by Bliss and Emshoff (2002) may seem very similar to those for conducting other types of evaluation that you have learned about in this course; in fact, it is the purpose and timing of a process evaluation that most distinguish it from other types of evaluation. A process evaluation is conducted during the implementation of the program to evaluate whether the program has been implemented as intended and how the delivery of a program can be improved. A process evaluation can also be useful in supporting an outcome evaluation by helping to determine the reason behind program outcomes.

 

There are several reasons for conducting process evaluation throughout the implementation of a program. Chief among them is to compare the program that is being delivered to the original program plan, in order to identify gaps and make improvements. Therefore, documentation from the planning stage may prove useful when planning a process evaluation.

 

For this Assignment, you either build on the work that you completed in Weeks 6, 7, and 8 related to a support group for caregivers, or on your knowledge about a program with which you are familiar. Review the resource “Workbook for Designing a Process Evaluation”.

 

Provide a 4-page plan for a process evaluation. Include the following minimal information:

 

· A description of the key program elements

 

· A description of the strategies that the program uses to produce change

 

· A description of the needs of the target population

 

· An explanation of why a process evaluation is important for the program

 

· A plan for building relationships with the staff and management

 

· Broad questions to be answered by the process evaluation

 

· Specific questions to be answered by the process evaluation

 

· A plan for gathering and analyzing the information

 

Must include at least 4 references and citations using the weekly reading materials and the references used in the original papers.

We can handle this paper for you

We Guarantee ZERO Plagiarism ZERO AI

Done by Professional writers from scratch