ABSTRACT
Chapter 1, “Program Evaluation: An Overview,” provides an introduction to the book as well as to the topic of program evaluation. One major point is the framework that runs through the book. The main areas potentially relevant for all evaluations are Meeting Needs, Implementation, Stakeholders, Side Effects, Improvement Focus, Outcomes, and Nuances. These areas, summarized in the acronym MISSION, are repeated in the case studies in each chapter and in the content of the book. The main types of program evaluations such as needs assessment, implementation evaluations, and summative evaluation are presented. A number of basic issues that evaluators discover when conducting evaluations are discussed, as are some of the main roles that evaluators play. The first case study and a profile of the evaluator involved in the case complete the main material, with study questions and additional resources rounding out the chapter.
