(7/22) - The take home final exam is now posted (Download by clicking here).  Be sure to sign and attach the honor pledge.  It is due on Friday July 29th at 12:00 PM if you drop it off in person or at 9:00 PM if you use email to send it electronically.     If you turn the paper in electronically, it must be sent as an email attachment and be only 1 file.  

(7/18) - Next week (7/25) you will present your evaluation projects.  The final version of your paper is due on Friday July 29th at 12:00 PM if you drop it off in person or at 9:00 PM if you use email to send it electronically.   If you turn the paper in electronically, it must be sent as an email attachment and be only 1 file. 

(7/11) - Next week (7/18) we will finish discussing the readings for randomized designs and other alternative research designs (e.g., quasi-experimental designs).  We will then discuss the final set of readings focused on the practice of program evaluation and explore the ethical, political, and social implications of program evaluations.  Your case memo on the Tuskegee Study and RCR certificates are also due at the start of class. 

(6/28) - There is no class next week due to the 4th of July.  Next class (7/11) we will finish discussing the readings on measuring impacts with randomized designs and other alternative research designs (e.g., quasi-experimental designs).  Your group presentations and critiques of a program evaluation are also due (be sure to send me a link to the PDF of the report by 7/6). 

(6/20) - Next week (6/27) we will finish discussing any the readings on assessing and monitoring program processes, discuss the readings on measuring outcomes and detecting effects and begin discussing the readings on measuring impacts with randomized designs.  Your measurement memos for your final project are also due.

(6/15) - Next week (6/20) we will finish discussing the readings on needs assessment and begin discussing the readings on assessing and monitoring program processes with an emphasis on performance measurement.  Your news critiques are due at the start of class.  Your program memos for your evaluation projects are also due. 

(6/6) - Next week (6/13) we will continue discussing the readings on logic models/program theory and each group should bring a copy of their logic model for dare to share with your classmates (need 9 copies).  We will discuss these at the start of class.  We will then discuss the readings on needs assessment with an emphasis on data collection. 

(6/2) - According the World Health Organization (WHO), cell phones can cause brain tumors and the press seems to agree (See this collection of news reports of the WHO finding).  But do they? See this critique of their finding and a news account from 2 weeks prior to the WHO meeting that said the researchers concluded that there was no clear link?  Also be sure to read page 5 of the WHO press release that describes what a group 2b finding is and think about what evidence is needed to reach that conclusion.  A statistical correlation is one thing but what about the substantive significance of their finding.  Understanding that would require first understanding the baseline risk of getting any type of brain cancer in the first place (See NIH fact sheet) and then understanding that gliomas are a subset of the various types of brain cancer and are relatively rare amount the different types.  Moreover, if cell phones did cause cancer, shouldn't there be some detectable increase in brain tumors considering they have been in widespread use for more than a decade?  There does not appear to be much evidence in the medical literature I searched that this is the case.  Come to class prepared to discuss this set of readings.

(5/23) - There is no class next week due to Memorial Day.  Our next class is June 6th and we will continue discussing the readings on Tailoring Evaluations and discuss the readings on Program Theory and Logic Models.  You should also come to class prepared to discuss the 3 part exercise (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3).  Be sure you have read the background readings and we will work on Parts 1, 2, and 3 in class. 

(5/19) - Our first class is Monday (5/23).  After reviewing the syllabus and assignments, we will discuss the introductory readings and then begin discussing the readings on Tailoring Evaluations. 

(5/19) - Welcome to PLS 506 - Program Evaluation.  The course schedule is updated frequently so be sure to check it periodically for updates on readings and the deadlines for assignments.  You can view the syllabus by clicking here or download a PDF version by clicking here. 

(5/19) - Since this class involves a lot of writing, I advise you read this recent article in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (JPAM) that has a number of useful writing tips (Download).   This website also provides useful style guidelines  (Click here).