Check alignment of evaluation indicators to program goals & objectives

© 2002, Barry Sweeny

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STEP # 14E.

It is very easier than one might imagine to create data collection tools which are too big, with too many items, which are too complex and confusing, and which discourage responses. It is also very easy to genereate more data than you actually can effectively tally and use. You need to avoid both of these conditions.

The goal of this step is to ensure that:

• The evaluation process produces data which actually helps the program accomplish its goals
• You do not collect more data than can be effectively used
• A high percentage of participants are willing to sincerely think about and complete the instruments you design.

Checking the alignment of the indicators you have selected against the goals and objectives of the program is essentially a comparison of these three lists to ensure that each is linked to the others. For example, any indicator that does not clearly relate to at least one goal is a candidate for tossing out, as it is not going to provide data related to any goals, and is therefore, suuperfluous and unneeded.

Here is a matrix that you can use to make such a comparison. To use it:

1. Enter the key words for each goal where the word "Goal #1", etc,. are.

2. Enter the objectives under that where the word "objectives", etc. are.

3. Enter the evaluation indicators you plan to use where the numbered indicators are.

4. Consider how clearly each indicator is aligned to and addresses each objective for each goal.

5. Place a "Y" or the word "Yes" in the appropriate cell when they are clearly linked, and a "N" or "No" when they clearly are not.

6. Place a "?" when the alignment is possible or questionable. These indicators either need to be rewritten to better assess the objective and goal, or they need to be discarded.

	GOAL #1		GOAL #2
INDICATORS \/	Objective 1A	Objective 1B	Objective 2A	Objective 2B	Objective 2C
Indicator #1	Y	Y	etc.
Indicator #2	Y	?	etc.
Indicator #3	N	Y	etc.
Indicator #4	etc.	etc.
Indicator #5

RETURN TO STEP #14E ON THE PROGRAM PLANNER

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