Definitions
Assessment encompasses methods for measuring or testing performance.
Evaluation the process of determining the value or worth of a program, course, or other initiative. The ultimate goal of evaluation is to make decisions about adopting, rejecting, or revising the current/new program or innovation.
[+] What to Ask When Considering an Assessment
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Why are we evaluating? [+]
- To review current service/process
- To consider new service/process
- Who will we ask to provide us information?
-
Who will use the results? [+]
- Staff
- Stakeholders
- You
-
Have we evaluated this before or
something similar? [+]
If yes, can we use same process or some of the results in this evaluation?
- Do we have a baseline or do we need to establish one?
-
What methodology or tool will we
use? [+]
-
Quantitative
Method
focuses on
numbers,frequencies and
information which is
easy to analyze
statistically and
fairly reliable.
Examples: Questionnaires, Email and Internet surveys, Telephone surveys
-
Qualitative
Method
focuses on
collecting data which
are concerned with
describing meaning,
rather than with
drawing statistical
inferences.
Examples: Focus Group Interviews that are either in person or telephone-assisted.
-
Quantitative
Method
focuses on
numbers,frequencies and
information which is
easy to analyze
statistically and
fairly reliable.
-
What will this tool tell us? [+]
- New information
- Reinforcement of what is known
- How accurate is its measurement?
- What are the initial and continuing costs for using this tool?
- What are the staffing requirements and what new operational knowledge does the staff gain?
- Will the assessment have an impact on and help support the goals of the library and its parent organization?
- How will we report findings?
- Will the findings be used by the library?
- How will the findings be used by the library?
- How will the findings be used by the library’s parent organization?
- How might the findings from the assessment be used against the library?
[+] What to Ask when Evaluating Programs & Services
-
Why are we providing or planning to
provide this programs/service; are
results of user needs identified?[+]
- To review current service/process
- To consider new service/process
-
Who will benefit? [+]
- Identify Stakeholders
-
What are the resources needed to
provide the service? –initial
and on-going? [+]
- Staffing & Funding
-
How will we benefit? [+]
- More visibility on campus
- Improved processes
- Does the service meet and/or support the mission, vision and/or the strategic plan?
-
How will we assess the program? [+]
- Methodology to be used to collect the data needed
[+] What to do After Evaluation is Completed
-
Analyze findings [+]
- Quantitative data: Does the data require a statistical package(such as SAS or SPSS), or would an Excel spreadsheet suffice?
- Are there staff available who can do data entry and work with software?
- Qualitative data: What common threads/themes can be learned from the responses?
- Report the findings.
-
Act on the findings. [+]
- Explore possible changes to affect better service, streamlined operations, more cost-effective ways to provide service(s), or to introduce new program(s) in light of strategic planning
- Prioritize and implement changes that will improve the current situation.
- Evaluate implemented changes.
