Comprehensive Evaluations


Book Description

An invaluable collection of sample case reports from experts in child and adolescent assessment With contributions from authorities in the fields of psychology and special education-including Dawn Flanagan, Elaine Fletcher-Janzen, Randy Kamphaus, Nadeen Kaufman, George McCloskey, Jack Naglieri, Cecil Reynolds, and Gale Roid—Comprehensive Evaluations provides over fifty sample case reports to help you draft carefully planned, goal-directed, and comprehensive evaluations that clearly explain the reasons for a student's school-related difficulties, from preschool to postsecondary level. A wellspring of information for educational professionals, Comprehensive Evaluations provides models for writing diagnostic reports to accompany the tests most frequently administered in the evaluation of children, adolescents, and adults, including the BASC-2, KABC-II, WAIS-IV, WISC-IV, and WJ III. The reports reflect various disciplines within psychology and education, different theoretical perspectives and paradigms, and span a broad spectrum of disabilities. The diagnostic reports found within Comprehensive Evaluations will help: Expand your familiarity with widely used test instruments Enhance your understanding of the interpretation of test scores Improve your ability to tailor written reports to the purposes of the evaluation Translate assessment results into meaningful treatment recommendations Recognize the differences in what evaluators from various school districts, agencies, and private practices consider to be a comprehensive evaluation Appreciate how your theoretical perspective and choice of tests can influence diagnostic conclusions Determine a report writing style that meets your needs Comprehensive Evaluations deftly illustrates how thorough assessments help empirically pinpoint the reasons a student is struggling in school, which then allows an evaluator to select the most appropriate accommodations and interventions to help the student succeed.




Program Evaluation Theory and Practice


Book Description

This engaging text takes an evenhanded approach to major theoretical paradigms in evaluation and builds a bridge from them to evaluation practice. Featuring helpful checklists, procedural steps, provocative questions that invite readers to explore their own theoretical assumptions, and practical exercises, the book provides concrete guidance for conducting large- and small-scale evaluations. Numerous sample studies—many with reflective commentary from the evaluators—reveal the process through which an evaluator incorporates a paradigm into an actual research project. The book shows how theory informs methodological choices (the specifics of planning, implementing, and using evaluations). It offers balanced coverage of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Useful pedagogical features include: *Examples of large- and small-scale evaluations from multiple disciplines. *Beginning-of-chapter reflection questions that set the stage for the material covered. *"Extending your thinking" questions and practical activities that help readers apply particular theoretical paradigms in their own evaluation projects. *Relevant Web links, including pathways to more details about sampling, data collection, and analysis. *Boxes offering a closer look at key evaluation concepts and additional studies. *Checklists for readers to determine if they have followed recommended practice. *A companion website with resources for further learning.




A Comprehensive Guide to Child Custody Evaluations: Mental Health and Legal Perspectives


Book Description

Whether assessing general family functioning or specific areas of conflict, professionals preparing child custody evaluations require sound knowledge of three interrelated fields: up-to-date legal issues, psychological findings, and forensic procedures. This book covers these three essential areas to walk readers through the evaluation process clearly and concisely. It further provides a unique combination of legal guidelines with social science research.




Impact Evaluation in Practice, Second Edition


Book Description

The second edition of the Impact Evaluation in Practice handbook is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to impact evaluation for policy makers and development practitioners. First published in 2011, it has been used widely across the development and academic communities. The book incorporates real-world examples to present practical guidelines for designing and implementing impact evaluations. Readers will gain an understanding of impact evaluations and the best ways to use them to design evidence-based policies and programs. The updated version covers the newest techniques for evaluating programs and includes state-of-the-art implementation advice, as well as an expanded set of examples and case studies that draw on recent development challenges. It also includes new material on research ethics and partnerships to conduct impact evaluation. The handbook is divided into four sections: Part One discusses what to evaluate and why; Part Two presents the main impact evaluation methods; Part Three addresses how to manage impact evaluations; Part Four reviews impact evaluation sampling and data collection. Case studies illustrate different applications of impact evaluations. The book links to complementary instructional material available online, including an applied case as well as questions and answers. The updated second edition will be a valuable resource for the international development community, universities, and policy makers looking to build better evidence around what works in development.




Teacher Evaluation


Book Description

This handbook advocates a new approach to teacher evaluation as a cooperative effort undertaken by a group of professionals. Part 1 describes the need for changed teacher evaluation, and part 2 outlines ways to use multiple data sources, including student and parent reports, peer review of materials, student achievement results, teacher tests, documentation of professional activity, systematic observation, and administrator reports, as well as discussions of the teacher as curriculum designer and data sources to avoid. Part 3 describes tools for improved teacher evaluation, and the evaluation of other educators is outlined in part 4. School district responsibilities and activities are described in part 5. This edition adds new chapters on: (1) the role of the principal in changed teacher evaluation; (2) how districts can transform current practice; (3) use of national standards; (4) developments in using student achievement data; and (5) the development of sociologically sophisticated teacher evaluation systems. Emphasis is placed on the use of the Internet as a resource and other new resources for local development. A list of legal cases cited is included. (Contains 343 references.) (SLD)




Evaluation for Continuing Education


Book Description

Evaluation for Continuing Education provides the useful and practical tools necessary to ensure a successful program evaluation. The book presents systematic guidelines aimed at enhancing understanding of evaluation concepts and procedures, and offers manageable ways to selectively include evaluation activities as an integral part of program planning, implementation, and justification. Author Alan Knox reveals that the key to successful evaluations that improve education programs for adults is a basic rationale for why and how. He helps readers select and develop their own rationale throughout the course of the book while suggesting fundamental evaluation concepts and procedures. He shows how to distinguish some program aspect upon which a specific evaluation project will focus-including needs assessment, goals and policies, staffing assessment, materials development, and more-and summarizes examples of evaluation reports that reflect the various types of providers and scales on which evaluations are conducted. Knox offers a particularly wide variety of these examples, enabling readers to reflect on implications for their own evaluations and fashion unique guidelines and procedures that fit their own situations.







A Comprehensive Critique of Student Evaluation of Teaching


Book Description

This thought-provoking volume offers comprehensive analysis of contemporary research and literature on student evaluation of teaching (SET) in Higher Education. In evaluating data from fields including education, psychology, engineering, science, and business, this volume critically engages with the assumption that SET is a reliable and valid measure of effective teaching. Clayson navigates a range of cultural, social, and era-related factors including gender, grades, personality, student honesty, and halo effects to consider how these may impact on the accuracy and impartiality of student evaluations. Ultimately, he posits a “popularity hypothesis”, asserting that above all, SET measures instructor likability. While controversial, the hypothesis powerfully and persuasively draws on extensive and divergent literature to offer new and salient insights regarding the growing and potentially misleading phenomenon of SET. This topical and transdisciplinary book will be of great interest to researchers, faculty, and administrators in the fields of higher education management, administration, teaching and learning.




Rubric Assessment Goes to College


Book Description

On campuses across the United States and beyond, schools of business, education, law, liberal arts, management, medical professions, pharmacy, and physical or social sciences are beginning to use assessment rubrics for purposes of formative and summative evaluation. A concise yet comprehensive guide to rubric usage, this book is an essential tool for university, professional school, college, community college, and upper level secondary school faculty members. It contains one-stop rubric shopping for key considerations, common problems, specific design steps, implementation samples, standards alignment, and grade-focused applications. Effective college-level rubrics that are the right tools for objective, comprehensive assessment can be constructed almost as easily as an ice cream sundae! Welcome aboard as Rubric Assessment Goes to College!




Program Evaluation Theory and Practice, Second Edition


Book Description

The leading text that covers both the theory and practice of evaluation in one engaging volume has now been revised and updated with additional evaluation approaches (such as mixed methods and principles-focused evaluation) and new methods (such as technologically based strategies). The book features examples of small- and large-scale evaluations from a range of fields, many with reflective commentary from the evaluators; helpful checklists; and carefully crafted learning activities. Major theoretical paradigms in evaluation--and the ways they inform methodological choices--are explained. Readers learn effective strategies for clarifying their own theoretical assumptions; working with stakeholders; developing questions; using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods designs; selecting data collection and sampling strategies; analyzing data; and communicating and utilizing findings. The new companion website provides extensive recommended online resources and tools, organized by chapter. New to This Edition *Additional evaluation approaches: collaborative evaluation, principles-focused evaluation, and desk reviews. *Coverage of new data collection technologies and methods of qualitative coding. *Expanded discussions of logic models, cost–benefit analysis, and mixed methods designs. *Many new and updated sample studies. Pedagogical Features *Reflection questions that prepare students to read each chapter. *"Extending Your Thinking" questions and practical activities. *Boxes delving into key concepts and example studies. *End-of-book Glossary, and highlighted key terms throughout. *Companion website with links to helpful resources on all aspects of evaluation.