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Obstacles to conducting program evaluations: implications for public health evaluators.
1School of Social Work, University of Windsor, ON.
Journal of Health & Social Policy
|December 9, 1995
Summary
Navigating program evaluation challenges requires addressing political, resource, and organizational resistance. Understanding the context and definitional nuances between evaluation and research is crucial for successful outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Program Evaluation
- Public Health Research
Background:
- Program evaluation faces significant obstacles hindering effective implementation.
- A core challenge stems from the historical definitional ambiguity between program evaluation and social science research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and discuss key obstacles encountered in conducting program evaluations.
- To underscore the importance of context and negotiation skills for evaluators.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of common barriers in program evaluation.
- Review of the relationship between evaluation and social science research.
Main Results:
- Identified obstacles include the term 'evaluation,' political dynamics, insufficient resources, organizational resistance to change, and lack of contextual understanding.
- The definitional dilemma between program evaluation and social science research is a fundamental underlying issue.
Conclusions:
- Evaluators must actively confront and successfully negotiate identified obstacles.
- The findings, while focused on public health, are broadly applicable across various evaluation disciplines.