Formative Evaluation: Estimating Preliminary Outcomes and Testing Rival Explanations.

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Title: Formative Evaluation: Estimating Preliminary Outcomes and Testing Rival Explanations.
Authors: Henry, Gary T.1 gary.henry@vanderbilt.edu, Smith, Adrienne A.2, Kershaw, David C.3, Zulli, Rebecca A.4
Source: American Journal of Evaluation. Dec2013, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p465-485. 21p.
Subject Terms: *Formative evaluation, *Program improvement (Education), *Educational evaluation, *Data analysis, Estimation theory, Performance evaluation, Quantitative research
Abstract: Performance-based accountability along with budget tightening has increased pressure on publicly funded organizations to develop and deliver programs that produce meaningful social benefits. As a result, there is increasing need to undertake formative evaluations that estimate preliminary program outcomes and identify promising program components based on their effectiveness during implementation. By combining longitudinal administrative data, multiple comparison group designs, and a progressive series of analyses that test rival explanations, evaluators can strengthen causal arguments and provide actionable program information for key stakeholders to improve program outcomes. In this article, we illustrate the application of rigorous methods to estimate preliminary program effects and rule out alternative explanations for preliminary effects, including site selection bias, individual selection bias, and resentful demoralization through the evaluation of the Collaborative Project, a North Carolina educational improvement project that incorporated multiple components aimed at boosting student achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of American Journal of Evaluation is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22American+Journal+of+Evaluation%22">American Journal of Evaluation</searchLink>. Dec2013, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p465-485. 21p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Formative+evaluation%22">Formative evaluation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+improvement+%28Education%29%22">Program improvement (Education)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+evaluation%22">Educational evaluation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis%22">Data analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Estimation+theory%22">Estimation theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Performance+evaluation%22">Performance evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Quantitative+research%22">Quantitative research</searchLink>
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  Data: Performance-based accountability along with budget tightening has increased pressure on publicly funded organizations to develop and deliver programs that produce meaningful social benefits. As a result, there is increasing need to undertake formative evaluations that estimate preliminary program outcomes and identify promising program components based on their effectiveness during implementation. By combining longitudinal administrative data, multiple comparison group designs, and a progressive series of analyses that test rival explanations, evaluators can strengthen causal arguments and provide actionable program information for key stakeholders to improve program outcomes. In this article, we illustrate the application of rigorous methods to estimate preliminary program effects and rule out alternative explanations for preliminary effects, including site selection bias, individual selection bias, and resentful demoralization through the evaluation of the Collaborative Project, a North Carolina educational improvement project that incorporated multiple components aimed at boosting student achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of American Journal of Evaluation is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1177/1098214013502577
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      – SubjectFull: Educational evaluation
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      – SubjectFull: Data analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Estimation theory
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              Text: Dec2013
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