Demystifying Evaluation: Practical Approaches for Researchers and Users

If a social service agency is going to be effective, it has to be evaluated regularly to determine whether it is meeting its goals and actually delivering the services it intends to. To do so well, however, requires skilled evaluators and an understanding within agencies of what their role entails. This brief introductory guidebook aims to demystify the work of evaluation, from basic concepts and approaches to choices of methods and implementation. Combining theoretical and practical aspects, it will be of use at all stages of considering, commissioning, conducting, and critiquing evaluations.