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Full-Text Articles in Education

Goal-Free Evaluation: A Potential Model For The Evaluation Of Social Work Programs, Brandon Youker Dec 2012

Goal-Free Evaluation: A Potential Model For The Evaluation Of Social Work Programs, Brandon Youker

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is an evaluation model where the evaluator is deliberately kept from the stated (or implied) goals and objectives of the program; this is accomplished by appointing a screener to keep goal-related information from the goal-free evaluator. Screening the evaluator from program goals is designed to control bias inherent in goal-based evaluation (GBE), a bias that contaminates the evaluator’s ability to see the program’s true outcomes and true merit. Although GFE has been around for more than half a century, GBE continues to dominate evaluation practice and the literature on GFE remains sparse and highly theoretical. This article …


The Logic Of Evaluation And Not-For-Profit Arts Organizations: The Perspective Of An Evaluation Consultant, Brandon Youker Dec 2009

The Logic Of Evaluation And Not-For-Profit Arts Organizations: The Perspective Of An Evaluation Consultant, Brandon Youker

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

This article defines evaluation, describes the logic of evaluation and discusses evaluation as it pertains to not-for-profit arts organizations. The purpose is to explain to not-for-profit arts organizations how an evaluation consultant conceptualizes the task of program evaluation. The article is based on the perspective and experiences of a consultant who was contracted to assist in building the program monitoring and internal evaluation capacities of arts organizations. Understanding the basics of systematic evaluation will assist arts organizations in developing sound program monitoring and evaluation strategies and practices.


Consequence Of Competing And Complementary Evaluation Approaches: A Case Study., Brandon Youker, Chris Coryn, Daniela Schröter, Michelle Bakerson Dec 2005

Consequence Of Competing And Complementary Evaluation Approaches: A Case Study., Brandon Youker, Chris Coryn, Daniela Schröter, Michelle Bakerson

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

A poster presentation demonstrating an evaluation of a summer school program for middle schoolers in which the evaluators divided into two teams and simultaneously evaluated the program. The first team examined the students' performance according to the program's ability to achieve stated goals while the second team intentionally avoided any knowledge of or reference to the stated goals and objectives throughout the entire evaluation. The two teams wrote separate reports and then a combined report.


Review Of The Evaluation Exchange, Volume Xi(1), Xi(2), And Xi(3), Brandon W. Youker Ph.D Dec 2005

Review Of The Evaluation Exchange, Volume Xi(1), Xi(2), And Xi(3), Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

The Evaluation Exchange is a free, online evaluation periodical (http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/eval.html) published by the Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) three or four times annually. It is aimed at addressing issues that program evaluators frequently encounter. The journal emphasizes innovative methods and approaches to evaluation, emerging trends in practice, and practical applications of evaluation theory. It is designed to serve as a medium for evaluators, program practitioners, funders, and policymakers.


International Association For Impact Assessment, Brandon W. Youker Ph.D Dec 2004

International Association For Impact Assessment, Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines impact assessment as “the process of identifying the future consequences of current or proposed action.” “IAIA is a forum for advancing innovation, development and communication of best practice in impact assessment. Its international membership promotes development of local and global capacity for the application of environmental assessment in which sound science and full public participation provide a foundation for equitable and sustainable development.”


Ethnography And Evaluation: Their Relationship And Three Anthropological Models Of Evaluation, Brandon W. Youker Ph.D Dec 2004

Ethnography And Evaluation: Their Relationship And Three Anthropological Models Of Evaluation, Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

This paper examines the relationship between ethnographic research methods and evaluation theory and methodology. It is divided into two main sections: (a) ethnography in evaluation and (b) anthropological models of evaluation. Three levels of the leading anthropological models of evaluation are summarized, which include responsive evaluation, goal-free evaluation, and constructivist evaluation. In conclusion, (a) there is no consensual definition of ethnography; (b) in many circumstances, ethnographic evaluation models may be beneficial; and (c) ethnography can be used in evaluation but requires a high level of analysis to transform ethnographic data into useful information for eliciting an evaluative conclusion.


The Evaluation Exchange--Harvard Family Research Project, Brandon W. Youker Ph.D Dec 2004

The Evaluation Exchange--Harvard Family Research Project, Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) was founded by the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1983. The HFRP aims to help strengthen family, school, and community partnerships of early childhood care and education; promote evaluation and accountability; and offer professional development to those who work with children and/or their families. The project has aided philanthropies, policymakers, and practitioners by collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing research and information. HFRP publishes the journal The Evaluation Exchange.


Evaluation In Latin America And The Caribbean: An Overview Of Recent Developments, Thomas Chianca, Brandon Youker Dec 2003

Evaluation In Latin America And The Caribbean: An Overview Of Recent Developments, Thomas Chianca, Brandon Youker

Brandon W. Youker Ph.D

In the past ten years, evaluation, as a professional field, has undergone significant development in several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Four considerations provide clear evidence of such development: (1) establishment of professional evaluation organizations; (2) intensified dissemination of ideas and use of professional evaluation in the three key societal sectors: government, private, and philanthropic; (3) increased number of evaluation-related publications; and (4) growing establishment of short-term and graduate-level training programs in evaluation.