Clearwater Program Evaluation

Evaluation and Needs Assessment

 

 

 

Good program evaluation focuses on improvement. Evaluation may contribute to research, and accountability is a reason why many evaluations are funded. However, the main function of Clearwater is to improve the projects it studies. That involves a careful assessment of the program's needs, goals, and activities. I am not wedded to any one methodology. However, most projects are funded with the expectation that they will demonstrate movement from objectives to outcomes. A typical evaluation creates a logic model that outlines the project's rationale and then selects information resources (observations, surveys, tests, records, conversations, and statistics) that will document and explain progress.