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Factors influencing evaluation scope of coalitions on formative to summative levels

Manchester, Julianne

Abstract Details

2007, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Educational Policy and Leadership.
Community coalitions are collectives (education, law enforcement, schools, and other sectors) engaged in needs assessment, resource identification, action planning, program implementation and evaluation to reduce and/or prevent substance abuse among youth and adults. The influences of finances, multiple sector representation, and the internal, working relations among those sectors on the scope of coalition evaluation plans were investigated. These three (capacity) factors have been suggested as critically important to shaping this type of planning. The obtained data was used to predict the breadth of evaluation plans. The propensity for comprehensiveness was affected by finances and to a lesser degree by the number of sectors participating. Specifically, coalitions receiving greater than $50,000 per year showed a statistically higher tendency for more sophisticated planning than those receiving less. In addition, the majority of coalitions tend to evaluate formatively rather than summatively, with few outcome indicators being measured. Coalitions should be looking at combinations of process (number of deliverables), intermediate (self report substance use questionnaires) and outcome indicators (public records such as arrests) to be fully accountable to funders and community stakeholders. There was a relationship between the use of external evaluators and more complete evaluation plans. Likewise, reliance upon members was not related to items pertaining to same. These two findings suggest that utilizing consultants is necessary to demonstrate progress and show effectiveness while depending upon members may produce less in the way of evaluation. The overall theme is that coalitions are often required to demonstrate results under conditions of low financial support and limited resources for hiring external evaluators. Adding to this is the fact that most members of coalitions have incomplete knowledge of evaluation processes and are not trained in them. Workshops and professional development opportunities would be helpful in improving awareness and possibly confidence toward evaluation, but enhanced funding is critical for the planning and implementation of better data collection strategies as carried out by external evaluation consultants.
James Altschuld (Advisor)
141 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Manchester, J. (2007). Factors influencing evaluation scope of coalitions on formative to summative levels [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1177688215

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Manchester, Julianne. Factors influencing evaluation scope of coalitions on formative to summative levels. 2007. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1177688215.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Manchester, Julianne. "Factors influencing evaluation scope of coalitions on formative to summative levels." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1177688215

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)