Practical Program Evaluation

This source provides a comprehensive guide to Practical Program Evaluation, authored by Huey T. Chen, focusing on the theory-driven and integrated evaluation perspectives. It defines intervention programs as open systems and outlines a typology that categorizes evaluation into four stages: planning, initial implementation, mature implementation, and outcome achievement. The text explains how evaluators can serve both accountability and program improvement needs by balancing scientific credibility with stakeholder responsiveness. Key conceptual tools are introduced, specifically logic models and the action model/change model schema, to help stakeholders describe and assess their programs. Ultimately, the book offers a strategic roadmap for selecting evaluation approaches that match a program’s unique life cycle and contextual challenges.