Instructor:
Melissa A. Walker

Prerequisites:
PAdm 702: Research Methods in Public Administration
PAdm 802: Quantitative Methods for Public Sector Professionals

Course Objectives:

• To engage students in the process of formulating a research question
• To examine tradeoffs associated with different approaches (e.g. case study, survey research, experiment)
• To strengthen students data analysis and analytic interpretation capabilities

Course Description:
The course introduces students to evaluation of public programs and public policy. It assumes a working knowledge of research methods and statistical analysis. Students learn how to work with stakeholders to formulate a ‘researchable’ question. Course participants probe the ‘theory’ or program logic behind a program. Students learn about evaluations done before (needs assessment), during (process or formative evaluation) and after (outcome or summative evaluation).

Major Topics Covered:
What is evaluation?
Who are stakeholders?
Program theory
Research questions
Needs assessment
Case study
Survey research
Outcome evaluation
Evaluating public policy

Typical Text and Readings:
Carol Weiss, Evaluation Second Edition
Rossi, Lipsey and Feeman, Evaluation: A Systematic Approach
Robert Yin, Case Study Research