Evaluation and Assessment

This course provides students with a practical understanding of the processes involved in communication program evaluation and assessment in public and non-profit settings. It will prepare participants to effectively assess, evaluate, and ultimately improve their communication programs. In this course, communication programs are taken to include research initiatives, participatory communication projects, training services, community mobilization efforts, and programs related to social development.

Participants will develop practical skills such as selecting appropriate methods of data collection, facilitating the application and use of these methods, and reviewing established standards for effective evaluation, as well as developing contextually suitable criteria for effective evaluation.

Additionally, the course examines the challenges presented by the use of different evaluation paradigms i.e., the traditional social scientific methods and the recent participatory methods of evaluation and assessment. It also covers all phases of evaluation from pre-project to replication and extension of evaluation and assessment programs to equip participants with the skills to conduct different types of evaluation including formative, process, outcome, and impact evaluation.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be familiar with theories and concepts of evaluation and be positioned to evaluate hypothetical and real programs as well as engage in program evaluation with the use of multiple approaches, including participatory processes in project evaluation. In addition, participants will gain the ability to assess the fit of specific evaluation and assessment techniques and methods.

Please click here for more information about program registration.

Registration information can be obtained by contacting Rafael Obregon, Ph.D.

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