52 - Design and Conduct Sound Evaluations Using the CIPP Evaluation Model

Abstract Information: This professional development workshop will teach participants to design and conduct sound evaluations using the updated CIPP Evaluation Model. The interactive, hands on workshop will help participants (evaluators, evaluation clients, evaluation students, etc.) plan, design, budget, contract, conduct, report, and assess program evaluations that meet the requirements of the CIPP Model and professional standards for sound evaluations. The workshop will be taught by the co-author of the authoritative book on program evaluation, The CIPP Model: How to Evaluate for Improvement and Accountability. The workshop will school participants in the current, updated version of the CIPP Model; acquaint the participants with selected checklists contained in the CIPP Evaluation Model book (design, budgeting, contracting, reporting, and metaevaluation); engage groups of participants to use an illustrative RFP to apply the design checklist in planning a context, input, process, or product evaluation and to assess their completed design against the metaevaluation checklist; and provide participants with relevant follow-up materials to make sure they depart the workshop with information on how to obtain additional information and assistance related to applying the CIPP Model.

Relevance Statement: The CIPP Model is a widely used evaluation approach that has kept pace with and in many senses, led advancements in the evaluation field. This workshop will provide users with an up-to-date, authoritative presentation of the model. Attendees will learn about expert applications of the model in a wide range of disciplines. Those evaluators who think that evaluations should focus only on program outcomes will have their eyes opened to the need to evaluate beneficiaries’ needs, alternative program plans, and program implementation, as well as program outcomes. The workshop will provide a richer treatment of outcomes evaluation than many people have previously considered. Particularly, the workshop will explain and provide direction for evaluating a program’s reach to its target audience, effectiveness, sustainability, and transportability. In addition, the workshop will equip attendees with concrete direction for designing, budgeting, contracting, and reporting evaluations plus supporting the use of findings. Moreover, we will introduce the measurement and analysis sections sufficiently technical and detailed (in terms of research design, instrumentation, data collection, and data analysis) to prepare users to do the full spectrum of work entailed in sound evaluations.