Program evaluation

Program evaluation is a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and using information to answer questions about projects, policies and <a href="/facts/Program_(management)/sS77vjgb">programs</a>, particularly about their <a href="/facts/Effectiveness/L8yAf41P">effectiveness</a> and <a href="/facts/Efficiency/azCNkIzY">efficiency</a>. 
In the <a href="/facts/Public_sector/bV8gdzPu">public</a>, <a href="/facts/Private_sector/fQudW9hp">private</a>, and <a href="/facts/Voluntary_sector/n5xonmEa">voluntary sector</a>, <a href="/facts/Project_stakeholder/y0en0Bgg">stakeholders</a> might be required to assess—under law or charter—or want to know whether the programs they are funding, implementing, voting for, receiving or opposing are producing the promised effect. To some degree, program evaluation falls under traditional <a href="/facts/Cost%E2%80%93benefit_analysis/xjHXgIAF">cost–benefit analysis</a>, concerning fair returns on the outlay of economic and other assets; however, social outcomes can be more complex to assess than market outcomes, and a different skillset is required. Considerations include how much the program costs per participant, program <a href="/facts/Impact_evaluation/4VNmGAsT">impact</a>, how the program could be improved, whether there are better alternatives, if there are <a href="/facts/Unintended_consequences/FeLSTncl">unforeseen consequences</a>, and whether the program goals are appropriate and useful. Evaluators help to answer these questions. Best practice is for the evaluation to be a joint project between evaluators and stakeholders. 
A wide range of different titles are applied to program evaluators, perhaps haphazardly at times, but there are some established usages: those who regularly use program evaluation skills and techniques on the job are known as Program Analysts; those whose positions combine <a href="/facts/Administrative_assistant/lD1ugpSN">administrative assistant</a> or <a href="/facts/Secretary/Plwk0x2e">secretary</a> duties with program evaluation are known as Program Assistants, Program Clerks (United Kingdom), Program Support Specialists, or Program Associates; those whose positions add lower-level <a href="/facts/Project_management/JgQVSU3o">project management</a> duties are known as Program Coordinators. 
The process of evaluation is considered to be a relatively recent phenomenon. However, planned social evaluation has been documented as dating as far back as 2200 BC. Evaluation became particularly relevant in the U.S. in the 1960s during the period of the <a href="/facts/Great_Society/w1zMdUsq">Great Society</a> social programs associated with the <a href="/facts/John_F._Kennedy/1cdDaswg">Kennedy</a> and <a href="/facts/Lyndon_Johnson/PKNthHX1">Johnson</a> administrations.
Program evaluations can involve both <a href="/facts/Quantitative_method/C1t5h075">quantitative</a> and <a href="/facts/Qualitative_method/po7v42yR">qualitative methods</a> of <a href="/facts/Social_research/29JKM0q7">social research</a>. People who do program evaluation come from many different backgrounds, such as <a href="/facts/Sociology/d2Fd0N87">sociology</a>, <a href="/facts/Psychology/duoqW7Sz">psychology</a>, <a href="/facts/Economics/HYctA2Dn">economics</a>, <a href="/facts/Social_work/u5mbNfYo">social work</a>, as well as <a href="/facts/Political_science/Gqy5EoRX">political science</a> subfields such as <a href="/facts/Public_policy/fYl7gXaC">public policy</a> and <a href="/facts/Public_administration/e5bgqajN">public administration</a> who have studied a similar methodology known as <a href="/facts/Policy_analysis/3TACGvdW">policy analysis</a>. Some universities also have specific training programs, especially at the <a href="/facts/Postgraduate_education/VhXDbhBz">postgraduate</a> level in program evaluation, for those who studied an <a href="/facts/Undergraduate_education/GVvPMLFN">undergraduate</a> subject area lacking in program evaluation skills.

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Program evaluation