Demystifying Evaluation by David Parsons
If a social service agency is going to be effective, it has to be evaluated regularly to determine whether it is meeting its goals and actually delivering the services it intends to. To do so well, however, requires skilled evaluators and an understanding within agencies of what their role entails. This brief introductory guidebook aims to demystify the work of evaluation, from basic concepts and approaches to choices of methods and implementation. Combining theoretical and practical aspects, it will be of use at all stages of considering, commissioning, conducting, and critiquing evaluations.
"Adds to an astonishingly slim collection of works that seek to make evaluation widely accessibleProf Parsons' contribution has enormous potential to assist in the relationships building needed between evaluators and the policy community to enhance evaluation and its use." J Bradley Cousins, University of Ottawa
"This book gets to the heart of the practical and methodological issues evaluators face. An excellent resource for social researchers and commissioners alike." Lindsey Bowes, Research Director, CFE Research
"Evaluating the effects of spending public money is crucial, but in many policy areas it is easier said than done. David Parsons draws on his considerable experience in this very accessible introductory guide which will be of interest to both evaluators and policy leads." Barbara Leach, Head of Evaluation, WRAP
“A concise and highly engaging text that provides a valuable overview of the growing and important area of evaluation. Those new to evaluation; researchers, commissioners and policymakers alike, will find this book an accessible and important resource” Stephen Morris, Manchester Metropolitan University
"This book gets to the heart of the practical and methodological issues evaluators face. An excellent resource for social researchers and commissioners alike." Lindsey Bowes, Research Director, CFE Research
"Evaluating the effects of spending public money is crucial, but in many policy areas it is easier said than done. David Parsons draws on his considerable experience in this very accessible introductory guide which will be of interest to both evaluators and policy leads." Barbara Leach, Head of Evaluation, WRAP
“A concise and highly engaging text that provides a valuable overview of the growing and important area of evaluation. Those new to evaluation; researchers, commissioners and policymakers alike, will find this book an accessible and important resource” Stephen Morris, Manchester Metropolitan University
Prof David Parsons is a programme evaluator with over 30 years’ experience of independent public policy analysis in the UK, Europe and internationally. He is also a Visiting Professor at Leeds Beckett University, and Principal Consultant at P&A Research and Consulting. He has previously held faculty posts at the Universities of Sussex and Cranfield, was an advisor to the National Economic Development Office (UK), Economic and Social Research Council (UK) and European Commission and a specialist associate to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. He also leads the Social Research Association’s programme in Advanced and Impact Evaluation, and has acted as advisor and trainer on evaluation methods to numerous publicly-funded bodies in the UK.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781447333906 |
| ISBN 10 | 144733390X |
| Title | Demystifying Evaluation |
| Author | David Parsons |
| Series | Social Research Association Shorts |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Bristol University Press |
| Year published | 2017-02-22 |
| Number of pages | 216 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |