Reading List for EPS/PAD 688: Research and Program Evaluation

August 31: No Class Session (2006 APSA Conference, Philadelphia, PA)

Ø        Review syllabus, schedule of assignments, and course expectations.

                                                                                                                                     

September 7:  Introduction to Research: Theory, Politics, Ethics, and Design

·        Babbie, Chapters 1-3

                                                                                                                                     

September 14:  Research Design, Hypotheses, and Causal Relationships

·        Babbie, Chapters 4, 17

                                                                                                                                     

September 21:  Conceptualization, Measurement, and Quantification

·        Babbie, Chapter 5, 14

                                                                                                                                     

September 28:  Creating and Using Indexes and Scales

·        Babbie, Chapter 6

                                                                                                                                     

October 5:  Measuring Outcomes and Performance

·        Performance Measurement Basics. Read this presentation first.

·        Rochester Area Logic Model. Rochester Grantmakers Forum.

·        A Brief Guide for Performance Measurement In Local Government. National Center For Public Productivity, Rutgers University

·        Margaret Plantz, Martha Greenway, and  Michael Hendricks. Showing Results in the Nonprofit Sector. United Way of America.

                                                                                                                                   

October 12: Practical Research Project Workshop

Ø      No assigned readings.

                                                                                                                                     

October 19:  Needs Assessments

·        Babbie, Chapter 11 (especially pp. 324-331); Appendix A

·        Coping with Growth - Community Needs Assessment Techniques [Strengths and weaknesses of different assessment tools]

·        Assessing Community Needs - Excellent overview of needs assessment processes and techniques. The Community Toolbox also has another page with further community needs assessment resources.

 

                                                                                                                                   

October 26:  Survey Research & Sampling

·        Babbie, Chapters 7,9; Appendix G

·         Statpac, Qualities of a Good Question

·        Statpac, Steps in Designing Customer and Employee Satisfaction Questionnaires Focus on the first three sub-sections: "How to Define the Goals of the Research," "How to Write Research Questions," and "How to Write Testable Research Questions." Click on "Write the Individual Survey Items..." to go to a free Tutorial with good for tips on developing questions.

                                                                                                                                   

 

November 2: Evaluation Research Designs

·        Babbie, Chapters 8, 12

·       Team Read (A)

                                                                                                                                   

November 9:  Use of Available Data; Team Read (B)

·       Team Read (B)

                                                                                                                                   

November 16: Group Meetings

Ø       No assigned readings.

                                                                                                                                  

November 23: Thanksgiving Recess—Classes Cancelled

                                                                                                                                     

November 30:  Practical Research Project Workshops

Ø       No assigned readings.

                                                                                                                                     

December 7:  Group Presentations

Ø       No assigned readings.