Take-home task: 3 short answers and a program logic

Length: maximum 2000 words

Total Weight: 40% (each question counts 10%).

This assignment is designed to test your knowledge of the content covered in weeks 1 to 7. The questions will be revealed two weeks prior to the due date, the 4^th of April.

The first three questions will address key discussion points covered in weeks 1 to 6. The program logic task will test your knowledge of material covered in week 7.

All four questions require answers of 300 to 500 words.

In researching your answers, start with unit readings and lecture material and extend your research effort from there. Do not cite lecture slides

Evaluation Proposal for Their Futures Matter

Length: maximum 2000 words

Total weight: 40% (Evaluation proposal: 30%. Reflection: 10%)

The Their Futures Matter team has contacted you in your role as an evaluation consultant. Their Futures Matter has given you this brief information about the task and the background to the task:

“The Evidence, Monitoring and Evaluation team requires a motivated, high performing consultant to design evaluation and evidence-building activities of the reform. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to work across an evidence-based reform that improves outcomes to NSW’s most vulnerable children and families. You will have the opportunity to work across the entire reform to develop evaluation frameworks and data collection approaches that measure client outcomes and program activity. There is tremendous opportunity to influence how NSW Government collects data to monitor and evaluate programs in this role. You will play a critical role ensuring the reform continues to build a strong evidence base to inform decisions on how to improve outcomes for NSW children and families.

More specifically, you must:

• Ensure inclusion of valid and reliable outcomes measures for collecting, analysing and reporting data
• Ensure that the methodology is robust and will contribute to the identification and improvement of client outcomes
• Enable inclusion of stakeholders, including government, non-government and academic stakeholders
• Develop an evaluation approach appropriate for use in the human services sector
• NB. Please note that the NSW government prefers experimental and quasi-experimental designs.”

Part 1: Proposal, 30% (1200 to 1500 words)

This research assignment requires you to develop an evaluation proposal for the NSW reform Their Futures Matter. This assignment is designed to give you the skills that enables you to design an evaluation.

You should organise the proposal to include the elements outlined in the table.  

Note: The sections indicated with an asterix * (cover letter, research timetable, budget, personnel, appendices) normally feature in research proposals and grant applications, but due to the word limit for this task they do not have to be included here (and will not count toward your task). References (which are compulsory) do not count toward your word limit.

Please make sure that you make linkages between the different sections of this report where appropriate.

Table 1: Evaluation Proposal

Cover letter*

You should include a cover letter and address the evaluation proposal

Title

The title should indicate the topic of the study in 1- 15 words

Summary

100 to 200 words summary of the entire project

Background/

Significance/

Context

This section should outline the program that you will be evaluating in the proposed research and indicate why evaluation is needed. What is the context of the policy? Are there controversies about the program or the social issue it responds to? What do we already know about the policy problem? Why is there a need for further information about this program?

When indicating why the evaluation is needed, you should discuss the program, the social issue that it responds to and what the evaluation will contribute to our knowledge.

Start with the webpage and expand your knowledge from there, such as previous inquiries, reviews, research etc.

Aims and

Objectives

Identify the study’s main objective and the key research questions that will guide the evaluation.

Approach and methods

Outline the approach of the evaluation. Discuss the suggested approach and justify why you have chosen that approach. What methods will you use? What will be the outcome of using this approach and these methods? Which stakeholders will be involved?

It is imperative that you explain the links between the evaluation question(s), the evaluation approach, the methods and how these will be operationalised in this particular case.

Use references when appropriate. In particular, take care to cite unit material.

Ethical and

Political Issues

Identify any specific issues arising from the research. Pay careful attention also to generic ethical issues in research with human subjects – Respect for Persons: Informed Consent; confidentiality; possible risks for subjects and any possible benefits. State whether Ethics approval has, or will be sought, and if so, from whom.

Also, consider the political dimensions of this report – are there controversies about the program or social issue? Are there any conflicts of interest (i.e. as internal or external evaluators)? And, consider the ethical issues that are likely to arise because this is evaluation research.

Use references, including those covered in the unit, if appropriate.

Research

Timetable*

Set out the best information available on the time needed for the various stages of the research: preparation, data collection, analysis, write up, publication/dissemination.

Personnel*

Where appropriate, identify the main people (including yourself as primary researcher)

are likely to be involved and summarise the experience and expertise they would need to bring in order to produce high quality data.

Budget*

This is required for many grant applications, consultancies, etc. It is often useful to complete in other cases as well.

References

List any books, articles, reports, web sites etc. you have cited in the proposal.

Appendices*

Attach any important documents (e.g. questionnaires, ethics approvals, CVs, budget, sampling framework) referred to in the body of the proposal.

Part 2: Reflection over suggested approach in part 1, 10% (300 to 500 words)

Compare and contrast the suggested approach in part 1 to one other evaluation approach. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the two approaches?

This assessment task is intended to encourage and reward you for actively engaging in the discussions and tasks set for each week. It is expected that you are prepared to engage with the lecturer and other students.

In marking this assignment, teaching staff will look for evidence that you have read the set readings, your willingness to engage in discussions and the quality of your participation. Your mark will reflect on both the quality and quantity of your engagement.