Evaluation, 6 Credits

Contents

Evaluation is a research-based activity designed to assess the merits of policies and programmes. Increasing demands that policy decisions and public spending are done in a more “accountable” and “evidence-based” way, mean that evaluation increasingly permeates all sectors of decision-making in society. The growing social and political significance of evaluation in turn means that evaluations need to be of high quality and informative. Against this background, this course examines evaluation as theory and as practice. Topics covered include: • What is evaluation and how does it differ from research? • Different evaluation models • How to design evaluations for specific purposes • How to assess the quality of evaluations (meta-evaluation) • Problems which professional evaluators are often confronted with in the course of their work. The course also includes a component on information seeking skills.

Expected learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, the student will: • Be familiar with different evaluation models and their relative strengths and weaknesses • Demonstrate skills in designing an evaluation plan for a specific purpose • Demonstrate skills in meta-evaluation • Be familiar with ethical guidelines for evaluators • Have an understanding of practical problems that professional evaluators often have to deal with • Demonstrate independent skills in presenting an analytical argument in written and oral form. • Demonstrate skills in information seeking.

Required Knowledge

Form of instruction

The course content is delivered through lectures, seminars, group and individual work. Compulsory attendence is required in group work and seminars. All lectures and seminars are held in English.

Examination modes

Examination of this course is in the form of active participation in seminars and group work, as well as two assignments. Examination part 1: The first assignment is to design an evaluation for a specific purpose. The cases will be provided by the tutor. This assignment may be carried out in pairs or individually. The design will be presented both orally and in written form. Examination part 2: The second assignment is to conduct a written meta-evaluation of an evaluation chosen in consultation with the course tutor. The meta-evaluation should demonstrate an understanding of the course literature. This assignment is to be carried out individually and handed in to the relevant course tutor at the end of the course. The grading scale for this course is: Pass with merit, Pass, Fail. Attendance at the compulsory seminars is required in order to be eligible for a “pass” grade for the course as a whole. International students will be graded in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Grading decisions are based on an assessment of the student’s individual performance. In case of a student being awarded a “fail” grade, she or he has the right to be re-examined in a form and at a time agreed upon in consultation with the examiner. Students have the right to be re-examined up to five times per course. Examination and supplementary examination based on the syllabus outlined here can be guaranteed for up to two years after the start of the course. If a student is awarded a “fail” grade on at least two consecutive attempts of the examination of the course or course component, she or he has the right to request a new examiner. The director of studies should be consulted in such circumstances.

Other regulations

Academic credit transfer: Decisions relating to academic credit transfers are made on a case-by-case basis. For further information about this contact the study advisor. See also Umeå University’s set of rules and academic transfer regulations; http://www.umu.se/studentcentrum/regler_riktlinjer/regelsamlingen/examensfragor.htm

Bachelors degree