ABSTRACT
Program evaluation represents a vital tool in helping organizations to make decisions about programs that they offer. Good program evaluation consists of several key components: identification of stakeholders, definition of the program, design of the evaluation, gathering evidence, data analysis and interpretation, presenting findings to stakeholders, and making decisions informing program change and/or design. This chapter examines the basic steps of program evaluation and ways to choose the type(s) of feedback needed. The chapter also examines different types of program designs, from summative (outcome-based) designs to formative (process-based designs), and gives some ideas on how to choose the best design for each project. Finally, two different models of program designs are explored.
