Services

PROGRAM EVALUATION

Evaluation efforts can help clients identify the strengths and weaknesses of their programs, as well as offer direction for improving program implementation and informing future program development.  As evaluation consultants, we are committed to providing clients with relevant information and practical direction.  We offer a wide range of evaluation services, which we tailor for each client depending upon information needs and resources.  We work in collaboration with clients to develop and refine campaign/program outputs (formative evaluation), assess implementation (process evaluation) and measure short and intermediate outcomes and long-term goals (outcome evaluation). 

SRA -NYC works with clients to:

  • Design the evaluation plan.  A well-conceived plan, developed using logic models and other evaluation planning tools, ensures that information obtained from the evaluation is relevant and practical.  Questions we ask to achieve these ends include:  What is the purpose of the evaluation?  Who will use the information from the evaluation-  How will you collect, analyze, and report information?  What is the timeline for evaluation?  And perhaps most importantly, what constitutes campaign/program success? 
  • Identify indicators to measure outcome achievement.  The selection of criteria that accurately represent program outcomes is one of the most important steps in the evaluation process.  There are many ways to measure program success─ we work with our clients to choose the most appropriate and informative indicators of program effectiveness.  Please see the “Program Development” section regarding our goal and outcome mapping services.
  • Collect data.  Based on the information needed and the resources available, we determine an appropriate data collection strategy.  Methods we use include document reviews, standardized assessments, surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, ethnographic observation and data extraction from existing datasets.  Additionally, we offer expertise in developing and validating surveys, interview protocols and other data collection tools.
  • Analyze data.  SRA’s associates are proficient in both quantitative and qualitative data analysis.  We are skilled in advanced quantitative analytic methodologies, including multiple linear and logistic regression analysis, factor analysis and hierarchical linear modeling, using software including SAS, SPSS, MLwiN, and HLM.  We also employ sophisticated qualitative research methods to glean findings from interview narratives, focus groups and other forms of qualitative data.
  • Report and present results.  Our approach ensures that evaluation findings will be relevant and provide practical direction for our clients.  All evaluation efforts are grounded in a clear understanding of client goals and how final evaluation results will be used.  To facilitate the translation of findings, we display complex data using mapping, graphing and other visual techniques.  We prepare research results in a wide variety of formats, including constituent reports, academic journal publications, conference presentations, white papers, policy briefs and PowerPoint presentations. 
  • Training and Capacity Building.  In order to cultivate clients’ internal capacity to conduct program evaluation, we offer both formal trainings and experiential learning in evaluation methods.  Our formal trainings include ½ to 2 day workshops that are firmly rooted in adult learning theory.  Our goal is for staff and stakeholders to understand evaluation concepts and be able to apply their new skills to future evaluation efforts.


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SRA-NYC is expert at program evaluation. They helped us define our outcomes with precision at the very onset    of our project, which streamlined our data collection process and resulted in an accurate assessment of our program    efforts.

Professor May G. Kennedy, Ph.D., MPH
Director of Graduate Studies
Dept. Social and Behavioral Health
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine