EVAL 6970:Cost Analysis
for Evaluation
Dr. Chris L. S. Coryn
Nick Saxton
Fall 2014
Agenda
•
•
•
•
Course overview
Introductions
Questions and discussion
Activity
Course Description
• This course is an advanced graduate
seminar designed to provide an
overview of cost analysis in
evaluation, including concepts and
definitions, analytical frameworks,
measurement of cost, placing
monetary value on program
ingredients, analyzing costs, costeffectiveness analysis, cost-benefit
analysis, and cost-utility analysis.
Course Description
• Cost analysis comprises one component
within comprehensive evaluations and
asks, in comparison to other
alternatives, Is the program worth what
it costs? Is it cost-effective? Do the
benefits justify the costs of the
program? Does the value or utility of
the program justify its costs? This
course is designed to provide an
overview of different cost analysis
methods for use in evaluation.
Course Website
• The website for this course is located
at
http://www.wmich.edu/evalphd/
courses/eval-6970-cost-analysis-forevaluation/
• From this site you can access
– The course syllabus
– Required readings
– Weekly lecture notes
Required Textbook
Learning Objectives
1. A clear understanding of the
importance of cost analysis in
conducting high quality,
comprehensive evaluations
2. A clear understanding of why costs
should not be ignored in conducting
evaluations
3. A clear understanding of how cost
analysis can help in ‘valuing’ programs
and other types of evaluands
4. A clear understanding of the concept
and measurement of costs
Learning Objectives
5. A clear understanding of methods for
placing value on various cost
‘ingredients’ in analysis of costs
6. An ability to design and conduct basic
cost-effectiveness analyses
7. An ability to design and conduct basic
cost-benefit analyses
8. An ability to design and conduct basic
cost-utility analyses
9. A clear understanding of appropriate
(and inappropriate) uses of cost
analysis in the context of evaluation
Secondary Learning Objectives
1. Conveying constructive criticism in a
professional, balanced, and tactful
manner
2. Facilitating discussion to engage
others in dialogue about evaluation
theory, method, and practice
3. Writing clearly and concisely for both
academic and non-academic audiences
4. Giving high quality, professional oral
presentations for both academic and
non-academic audiences
Course Components
•
•
•
•
Attendance & class participation
Chapter exercises
Application paper presentation
Application paper
5%
50%
15%
30%
A Note on Course Assignments
• All course assignments are due by
5:00 PM on the date indicated in the
course schedule
• All assignments should be e-mailed
to the instructor and teaching
assistant with “EVAL 6970” in the
subject line
• NO late assignments will be
accepted, will not be graded, and will
be assigned a grade of “0” (“F”)
Schedule of Topics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Introduction to cost analysis
Establishing an analytic framework
The concept and measurement of costs
Placing value on ingredients
Analyzing costs
Cost-effectiveness analysis
Cost-benefit analysis
Cost-utility analysis
The use of cost analysis
Course Structure
• If necessary, a question-and-answer
session for prior week’s material
• Lecture
• Discussion
• Activity
Who Are You?
• Why are you here?
• What do you expect to learn?
• What prior experiences do you have
with evaluation? Research? Design?
Measurement? Statistics (or analysis
in general)?
Who Are We?
An abbreviated life history…
that has significantly influenced my world view and
evaluation practice
Major Influence on My
Thinking About Evaluation
“…bad is bad and
good is good and it
is the job of
evaluators to decide
which is which”
— Scriven
Other Influences
Davidson
Cronbach
Hattie
Stufflebeam
Cook
Chelimsky
Shadish
Patton
Most Profound Influence on My
Evaluation Practice
Who Are We?
An abbreviated life history…
that significantly influenced my world view and
evaluation practice
Major Influence on My Thinking
About Evaluation
“A system of
morality […] based
on relative emotional
values is […] a
thoroughly vulgar
conception, which
has nothing sound in
it and nothing true”
— Socrates
Other Influences
Kant
Leibniz
Descartes
Bacon
Aristotle
Jefferson
Scriven
Coryn
Batman
Activity
• WMU is currently in the process of
conducting an “academic program
review”
– Programs will likely be terminated,
restructured, or combined
– Should cost analysis be used, or not used,
in this process?
• In small groups, take one position or
the other (to use or not use cost
analysis) and support your position
with at least three reasons for using or
not using cost analysis in this context