Guide to Impact Evaluation of Community-Based Projects

Community-based programs are of no use to the people they are intended to serve unless they accomplish their intended goals. Program evaluation is an applied social science, which seeks to make this determination for specific projects.

Creation

Not only does program evaluation seek to assess a community program's success after it is implemented, it also used in program design. The first step for the program evaluation of a community-based project is to establish the need for the program. This is accomplished by assessing community needs and capabilities and consulting the research to find the best way of serving these needs.

Refinement

In the second step, researchers examine how well the program serves its intended purpose by gathering program satisfaction data. After evaluating this data, lessons learned are identified, as are strengths and weaknesses of the program. This information is then used to strengthen the program.

Outcomes

Once community programs are refined, their short- and long-term impact are evaluated. Short- and long-term outcome measures are chosen, other research design issues are decided, data is collected and analyzed, and findings are reported. Through this process, the successful aspects of the program are identified to be applied elsewhere as needed.

References

• University of Arizona: Community-Based Project Evaluation Guide.

Resources

• U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance: Guide to Program Evaluation.