Donna Brooks
Old Dominion University
Task 5
Research Plan
STAKEHOLDERS
There are many stakeholders involved in the agency that I am evaluating. They are the executive director, the program director, the outreach program director and the case manager. I am directly involved with the outreach program director and the case manager. I think as a future human services professional it is important for me to be involved with the case manager. I think this could add important information to my evaluation.
TYPE OF EVALUATION/RELATION
The type of evaluation would be studies of needs. I would like to see where needs are to be met in order to get out more resources. I would also like to know what type of funding needs to be in place in order to help fund this agency. I think this evaluation type relates to my study in that it helps to see where the resources are needed and where they need to be distributed. I also think that funding needs are important when it comes to an agency. Funding is necessary to keep the agency going.
IDENTIFYING EVALUATION TYPE
Assessing the needs of a program identifies how much need within the agency is required. Also, assessing needs helps to see where you need to reach out within a community to get resources to individuals in need. It helps you to see what type of community or population you are dealing with. It also helps you to see what type of agencies can be of assistance to your outreach efforts. It helps you to see what the individuals are in need of, how much they need, and what other things they may need help with.
IDENTIFYING EVALUATION QUESTIONS
My first evaluation question is, How do clients of this program or people looking into the program, obtain information and what types of resources and information is available to them? My second evaluation question is, What type of organizations help fund this agency, and if they provide services, what types of services do they provide? I think my questions are pretty transparent when it comes to discussing what I am evaluating. I would like to evaluate the information and resources needed to gain information for present and future clients of the agency. I would also like to know what information is readily available to them. With my second question, I would like to know what agencies assist with this agency on a communal level.
ALIGNMENT
The evaluation of studying the needs of a program aligns with my evaluations questions. It does this in assessing the information and also obtaining information needed for clients. It addresses how they can get information and resources. It also helps future and present clients to get help and services within the community with agencies that are affiliated with the one I am evaluating.
DATA COLLECTION METHODS
The data collection methods I plan to use in my evaluation are interviews and agency records. I think interacting personally with the program members will give me a better response for my evaluation. I think people are more upfront and honest when it comes to interviewing face-to-face. Agency records are hard to obtain but I also think you can gain information from the material the agency already possesses. They have plenty of information in brochures, research and outreach material. Much of the information that they already have is very informative and can help me in a major way during my evaluation.
RESEARCH METHODS
The type of research method I plan to use during my evaluation is the qualitative evaluation method. Qualitative refers to procedures that yield nonnumerical information that helps evaluators to understand the program and the participants’ relation to the program (Posavac, 2011,2007,2003). I want to evaluate on a qualitative level because I want to gain more understanding and I also want future and present clients to gain and obtain information. I want to understand the program thoroughly and how it operates. I think with the type of agency I am evaluating a qualitative method is very appropriate. I think gaining a deeper understanding from the qualitative approach will not only help me as an evaluator but will help others as well.
BEST RESEARCH METHOD
I think this method would work best with my evaluation question because the qualitative method relates to my questions. I think my questions are more qualitative. They address the fact that there are resources and that those resources need to be distributed more. This could also help those in the future who need the services of this program. Knowing the types of organizations and agencies that help this agency will help for more outreach within the community. It will help others get the services that they need.
REFERENCES
Posavac, E. J. (2011,2007,2003). Program Evaluation Methods and Case Studies (8th ed.). New York NY: Routledge.
