Basic Guide to Program Evaluation

Adapted from the Field Guide to Nonprofit Program Design, Marketing and Evaluation, this document provides guidance toward planning and implementing an evaluation process for nonprofit or for-profit programmes. It incorporates various kinds of evaluations that can be applied to programmes, for example, goals-based, process-based, outcomes-based, etc. A "Program Evaluation Planning Checklist" is included to help with evaluation planning.

Sections on the topics include:

• Program Evaluation: carefully getting information to make decisions about programs
• Where Program Evaluation is Helpful Basic Ingredients
• Planning Program Evaluation
• Major Types of Program Evaluation
  
• Overview of Methods to Collect Information (questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, etc.)
  
• Selecting Which Methods to Use (which methods work best to get needed info from audiences)
  
• Analyzing and Interpreting Information Reporting Evaluation Results
  
• Who Should Carry Out the Evaluation?
  
• Contents of an Evaluation Plan
  
• Pitfalls to Avoid