NCJ Number
50829
Journal
Policy Analysis Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (SUMMER 1977) Pages: 429-444
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A COURSE THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA'S MASTER OF ARTS IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM WITH AN OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC PROGRAM EVALUATION IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE COURSE DEALS WITH THE CONCEPTION, EXECUTION, AND USE OF EVALUATION, AND IS INTENDED TO TRAIN STUDENTS TO MANAGE COMPETENTLY RATHER THAN ACTUALLY TO CONDUCT EVALUATION RESEARCH. THE COURSE IS PRESENTED IN 16 SEMINARS. THE FIRST EIGHT SEMINARS FOCUS ON MAJOR FACETS OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS, SUCH AS THE KINDS OF INFORMATION SOUGHT AND THE METHODS OF COLLECTING DATA TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. THE REMAINING SEMINARS ARE DEVOTED TO STUDENTS' PRESENTATIONS OF THEIR INDEPENDENT PROJECTS, IN WHICH THEY EXAMINE THE WAYS IN WHICH PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS AND POLICY ANALYSTS ACTUALLY EVALUATE PROGRAMS. THE TOPICS OF ASSIGNED READINGS AND DIRECTED DISCUSSIONS, THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE READINGS WERE SELECTED, AND THE TEACHING TECHNIQUES USED IN CONDUCTING THE SEMINARS ARE DISCUSSED, AS ARE THE PREPARATION OF INDEPENDENT PROJECTS, GRADING PROBLEMS IN TEACHING THE COURSE, AND STUDENTS' REACTIONS TO THE COURSE. THE ONE SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM IN TEACHING THE COURSE HAS BEEN THE STUDENTS' STRONG PREFERENCE FOR THE PRACTICAL OVER THE ABSTRACT OR THEORETICAL. STUDENTS VIEW THE INDEPENDENT PROJECTS AS THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF THE COURSE. (LKM)