IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/epplan/v94y2022ics0149718922000933.html

Teaching program evaluation: How blending theory and practice enhance student-evaluator competencies in an education policy graduate program

Author

Listed:
  • Sowl, Stephanie
  • Amrein-Beardsley, Audrey
  • Collins, Clarin

Abstract

Researchers examined student learning outcomes in two program evaluation courses, taught by the same instructors: a first-year PhD-level course taught using theory and a second-year master’s-level course taught blending theory and application by executing an evaluation. Embedding this work in Ghere, King, Stevahn, and Minnema (2006) Essential Competencies for Program Evaluators Self-Assessment (ECPE), researchers investigated student perceptions of their evaluator competencies, scored end-of-course proposals, and interviewed program leaders to understand differences between the two teaching methods, as well as the extent to which the applied evaluation component of the master’s-level course may have impacted differential, practice-based outcomes. Researchers analyzed program leader interviews and student data derived via survey, and a six-person team analyzed students’ end-of-course proposals. Findings showed master’s-level students independently rated all applied components of their course significantly higher than their and their PhD counterparts’ rating of the theoretical components, which partially aligned with results of students’ final, end-of-course proposals. Program leaders agreed that the applied course yielded strong evaluative findings, given what they perceived as a successful integration of theory and practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Sowl, Stephanie & Amrein-Beardsley, Audrey & Collins, Clarin, 2022. "Teaching program evaluation: How blending theory and practice enhance student-evaluator competencies in an education policy graduate program," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:94:y:2022:i:c:s0149718922000933
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102139
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149718922000933
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102139?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. King, Jean A. & Ayoo, Sandra, 2020. "What do we know about evaluator education? A review of peer-reviewed publications (1978–2018)," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Poth, Cheryl N. & Searle, Michelle & Aquilina, Alexandra M. & Ge, Jenny & Elder, Alexa, 2020. "Assessing competency-based evaluation course impacts: A mixed methods case study," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    3. Lee Cronbach, 1951. "Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 16(3), pages 297-334, September.
    4. Lipsey, Mark W. & Pollard, John A., 1989. "Driving toward theory in program evaluation: More models to choose from," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 317-328, January.
    5. Willer, Barry S. & Bartlett, Donald P. & Northman, John E., 1978. "Simulation as a method for teaching program evaluation," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 1(3), pages 221-228, January.
    6. Morris, Michael, 1992. "Field experiences in evaluation courses : Increasing their value to students and sponsors," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 61-66, January.
    7. Patton, Michael Quinn & Horton, Douglas, 2008. "Utilization-focused evaluation for agricultural innovation," ILAC Briefs 52533, Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC) Initiative.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kalpazidou Schmidt, Evanthia & Graversen, Ebbe Krogh, 2020. "Developing a conceptual evaluation framework for gender equality interventions in research and innovation," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. King, Jean A. & Ayoo, Sandra, 2020. "What do we know about evaluator education? A review of peer-reviewed publications (1978–2018)," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    3. Shoon Kathleen Murray & Jason Meyers, 1999. "Do People Need Foreign Enemies?," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 43(5), pages 555-569, October.
    4. Ali Askerov & Thomas Matyok, 2015. "The Upper Karabakh Predicament from the UN Resolutions to the Mediated Negotiations: Resolution or Hibernation?," European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 1, ejis_v1_i.
    5. Francisco Liébana-Cabanillas & Nidhi Singh & Zoran Kalinic & Elena Carvajal-Trujillo, 2021. "Examining the determinants of continuance intention to use and the moderating effect of the gender and age of users of NFC mobile payments: a multi-analytical approach," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 133-161, June.
    6. Jean-François Hamel & Jean-Benoit Hardouin & Tanguy Le Neel & Gildas Kubis & Yves Roquelaure & Véronique Sébille, 2012. "Biases and Power for Groups Comparison on Subjective Health Measurements," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(10), pages 1-14, October.
    7. Yoon, Junghyun & Lee, Hee Yong & Dinwoodie, John, 2015. "Competitiveness of container terminal operating companies in South Korea and the industry–university–government network," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1-14.
    8. Md. Mominur Rahman & Bilkis Akhter, 2021. "The impact of investment in human capital on bank performance: evidence from Bangladesh," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Prami Sengupta & Randall Cantrell, 2021. "Context Matters: The effects of budgetary and knowledge constraints on residential energy conservation," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 11(4), pages 561-573, December.
    10. Usunier, Jean-Claude, 1998. "Oral pleasure and expatriate satisfaction: an empirical approach," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 89-110, February.
    11. Abdul Kadar Muhammad Masum & Md Abul Kalam Azad & Loo-See Beh, 2015. "Determinants of Academics' Job Satisfaction: Empirical Evidence from Private Universities in Bangladesh," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(2), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Amolo Elvis Juma Amolo & Charles Mallans Rambo & Charles Misiko Wafula, 2024. "Hedging Derivatives and Performance of Renewable Energy Projects in Kenya," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 11(8), pages 619-630, August.
    13. Ana Isabel González-Contreras & David Pérez-Jorge & José Luis Ramos-Sánchez & José Vadillo-Gómez, 2024. "CFD-14: detecting literacy and dyslexia risks in early and primary education," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    14. Sharma, Vivek & Bhat, Dada Ab Rouf, 2020. "An empirical study exploring the relationship among human capital innovation, service innovation, competitive advantage and employee productivity in hospitality services," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 9(2), pages 1-14..
    15. Chumbler, Neale R. & Beverly, Claudia J. & Beck, Cornelia K., 1997. "Rural older adults' likelihood of receiving a personal response system: The Arkansas medicaid waiver program," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 117-127, May.
    16. Rosane Maria Seibert & Clea Beatriz Macagnan & Robert Dixon & Davi Souza Simon, 2019. "Social responsibility indicators: perspective of stakeholders in Brazil and in the UK," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(2), pages 128-144, July.
    17. Deepak, 2016. "Antecedent Value of Professional Commitment and Job Involvement in Determining Job Satisfaction," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 41(2), pages 154-164, May.
    18. Oberrauch, Luis & Kaiser, Tim, 2020. "Economic competence in early secondary school: Evidence from a large-scale assessment in Germany," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    19. Vicente Morales-Baños & Francisco José Borrego-Balsalobre & Arturo Díaz-Suárez & José María López-Gullón, 2023. "Levels of Sustainability Awareness in Spanish University Students of Nautical Activities as Future Managers of Sports and Active Tourism Programmes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-22, February.
    20. Abernethy, Margaret A. & Vagnoni, Emidia, 2004. "Power, organization design and managerial behaviour," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 29(3-4), pages 207-225.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:94:y:2022:i:c:s0149718922000933. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/evalprogplan .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.