EDMS 647 Introduction to Program Evaluation
Course Project Specifications
DIRECTIONS: This assignment is to be completed in the form of a research proposal. Documents
must have one-inch margins all around and font must be no smaller than 10 characters per inch.
Sections of the assignment should be labeled with the headings that appear on this assignment sheet
(Part 1 Introduction and Purpose, Part 2 Literature Review, etc.) and each task should be presented
in a separate paragraph or section.
Papers must include all of the following information:
PART1
Introduction and Purpose
A. State the name of the program that you will be evaluating and list:
1. The sponsor(s) of the evaluation (who will be financing it);
2. The stakeholders in the program (those who have a vested interest in the program itself); and,
3. The audience for the evaluation (those who will be reading and acting upon the results).
B. State the purpose(s) of the evaluation.
PART 2
Literature Review
A. Prepare a thorough description of the program including its goals and objectives, critical
components and activities, and demographic description of the clients served. Cite all sources,
including websites, brochures, mission statements, etc.
B. Reflect upon possible sources of evaluation criteria and standards for the evaluation. List any
existing models, frameworks, research, professional standards, checklists, guidelines, or criteria
that may be applicable to your evaluation.
C. Present a review of the literature relevant to the program evaluation, including general sources on
methodology as well as specific sources on similar programs, projects, or conceptual elements.
Cite all sources using APA format.
PART 3
Methodology
Thoroughly describe the methodology you plan to use, including the research question(s) you will be
seeking to answer, the individuals who will be involved both as part of the evaluation team and as
subjects, the instruments you will use, the data you will collect, and how you will analyze the data.
PART 4
Implementation Plan
Develop a chart to summarize your evaluation plan. Organize the chart around the research
question(s) you will be seeking to answer, and list the following information for each question:
 the information needed to answer it;
 the instrument(s) you will use to obtain the information;
 where or from whom you will obtain the information;
 the procedure(s) you will use to collect it; and
 how you will analyze the data collected.
Each part of the assignment must be ready for discussion on the dates indicated on the Class
Schedule. You are expected to summarize your project and contribute to the formative feedback
discussion on the Discussion Board.
Students who wish to have formative feedback from the instructor should bring a draft copy of their
work to class any time prior to November 7. It will be reviewed and commented upon (NOT
“graded”), and returned the following week.
Scoring Key for Program Evaluation Plan
Content
Understanding
Presentation
Score Point 10
All four sections of the paper
contain all of the required
information and the content is
discussed with a very high
level of clarity, such that the
reader has no questions in
regard to its meaning or
source.
The paper conforms
completely to all stated
presentation requirements, is
superbly neat and well
organized, and contains no
spelling or grammatical
errors.
Score Point 8
All four sections of the paper
contain all of the required
information and the content is
discussed with a high level of
clarity, such that the reader
has only one or two questions
in regard to its meaning or
source.
Score Point 6
At least three sections of the
paper contain all of the
required information and the
content is discussed with
enough clarity that the reader
has only a few questions in
regard to its meaning or
source.
The paper demonstrates
without question that the
writer understands the
process of program
evaluation planning, and the
plan itself shows careful
attention to detail and careful
consideration of all aspects of
the proposed evaluation.
The paper demonstrates that
the writer has a high level of
understanding of the process
of program evaluation
planning, and the plan itself is
well organized and thorough,
showing consideration of all
aspects of the proposed
evaluation.
The paper demonstrates that
the writer has an acceptable
understanding of the process
of program evaluation
planning, and the plan itself is
organized, showing
consideration of most of the
aspects of the proposed
evaluation.
The paper demonstrates that
the writer has a developing
understanding of the process
of program evaluation
planning, and the plan itself is
approaching an organized
state. Some aspects of the
proposed evaluation may
have been omitted.
The paper demonstrates that
the writer lacks acceptable
understanding of the process
of program evaluation
planning, and/or the plan
itself is unorganized and/or
several aspects of the
proposed evaluation have
been omitted.
Score Point 4
Score Point 2
At least two sections of the
paper contain all of the
required information, however
there is a lack of clarity in the
discussion that leads to
numerous questions on the
part of the reader with regard
to the meaning or source of
the content.
Only one section of the paper
contains all of the required
information and/or there is a
lack of clarity in the
discussion that leads to lack
of understanding on the part
of the reader with regard to
the meaning or source of the
content.
The paper conforms to all of
the stated presentation
requirements, is
predominantly neat and well
organized, and contains no
more than one or two spelling
or grammatical errors.
The paper conforms to most
of the stated presentation
requirements, and/or is
basically neat and well
organized, and/or contains
more than two spelling or
grammatical errors.
The paper conforms to some
of the stated presentation
requirements, and/or is
somewhat neat and well
organized, and/or contains
numerous spelling or
grammatical errors.
The paper conforms to few of
the stated presentation
requirements, and/or is not
neat and/or well organized,
and/or contains enough
spelling or grammatical errors
to interfere with
understanding.