Question

the purpose of a program evaluation is to assess program outcomes. What are program outcomes? How do evaluators identify relevant outcomes for evaluation? what is the importance of evidence-based research in program evaluation.

Answer 1

Program outcomes are the impacts of the program on customers receiving services, products or on the purpose for which the program was designed. Outcomes help to know whether the objectives of the program has been achieved and also helps in taking steps to improve the effectiveness of the program.

Evaluators  identify from the relevant outcomes what their client really need and whether the products and services are providing what is needed and decide on providing new products and services that best meet the needs of the customers.

Evidence based reserarch is very helpful in program evaluation. It used scientific methods to asses process outcomes,impacts etc. and provide the best evidence about program merit. It ensures that the information used to make decision is based on research not on opinion. It ensures that the program study must be objective so that the researcher can not change the results. It also keeps the record of all the data which can be verified by other researchers to verify the results. Thus better decisions can be made about products and services through evidence based research in program evaluation.