Evaluation Resources
Research, evaluation, and assessment are significant elements
of the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP). Since TOP
applications are rated in part on their evaluation plans, the
resources listed below may help you create and conduct evaluations
of information technology projects. In addition, TOP has developed
Evaluation Guides that help users integrate evaluation into their
projects.
Please Note:
The Department of Commerce does not endorse any particular product, company,
information provider, or the content of the sites referenced below.
Federal Efforts
Department of Agriculture
Within the Department of Agriculture, the Economic
Research Service is among the organizations that provide useful statistical
data, economic analysis, and reports.
Department of Commerce
Within the Department of Commerce, the Advanced Technology Program's
Economic
Assessment Office, the Economics
and Statistics Administration, and NTIA's Office
of Policy Analysis and Development, are among the ogranizations that
provide useful stastical data, information on evaluation techniques, and
reports.
Department of Education
Within the Department of Education, the Office
of Educational Technology and the Office
of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) are among the offices
that provide useful information on evaluation techniques, resources, and
reports.
Department of Health and Human Services
Within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) is responsible
for major activities in the areas of strategic planning, policy research
and evaluation, and economic analysis.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Within the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Office
of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) is responsible for maintaining
current information to monitor housing needs, housing market conditions,
and the operation of existing programs; and for conducting research on
priority housing and community-development issues
National Science Foundation
Within the National Science Foundation, the Directorate for Education
and Human Resources' Division
of Research, Evaluation and Communication and the Directorate for Social,
Behavioral and Economic Sciences' Division
of Science Resources Studies are among the divisions that provide useful
information on evaluation techniques, resources, and reports.
United States Office of Management and Budget
The United States Office of
Management and Budget developed a primer
on performance measurement that focuses on measuring economic and financial
performance.
Associations and Foundations
American Evaluation Association
The American Evaluation Association
is an international professional association of evaluators devoted to the
application and exploration of program evaluation, personnel evaluation,
technology, and many other forms of evaluation. Evaluation involves assessing
the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products,
and organizations to improve their effectiveness.
American Sociological Association
The American Sociological Association
(ASA), founded in 1905, is a non-profit membership association dedicated
to advancing sociology as a scientific discipline and profession serving
the public good.
Evaluation Exchange
The Evaluation Exchange,
sponsored by the Harvard Family Research Project, is an interactive forum
for the exchange of ideas, lessons, and practices in the evaluation of
family support and community development programs, promoting discussion
among persons from a variety of organizational affiliations and viewpoints.
Grantmakers Evaluation Network
The Grantmakers Evaluation
Network (GEN) is an affinity group of the Council on Foundations. The
purpose of GEN is to promote the development and growth of evaluation in
philanthropy. GEN will seek to leverage, expand, and diversify the sources
of philanthropic dollars for evaluation and to build the capacity of members
and others in its pursuit.
Innovation Network (InnoNet)
InnoNet is a non-profit organization that offers a number of free services and resources for groups seeking evaluation and strategic planning assistance. InnoNet's mission is to build the skills, knowledge, and processes within public and non-profit organizations to improve their overall organizational learning and effectiveness.
Public Education Network
The Public Education Network (PEN) website, Nonprofit Development Tools, contains numerous tools for strategic planning, outsourcing services, planning and building a website, and research and evaluation.
Outcome Measurement Resource Network
The Outcome Measurement
Resource Network, sponsored by the United Way of America, provides
a step-by-step manual for health, human service, and youth- and family-serving
agencies that is both methodologically sound and highly practical.
Society for Applied Sociology
The Society for Applied Sociology,
founded in 1978, is an international organization for professionals involved
in applying sociological knowledge in a wide variety of settings.
Journals and Recent Reports and Studies
An Educator's Guide
to Evaluating The Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms.
Released in December 1999, this guide was developed for the U.S. Department
of Education by the American Institutes for Research in conjunction with
its formative evaluation of the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund. The
guide represents a joint effort among the Office of Educational Research
and Improvement, the Office of Educational Technology, and the Office of
Elementary and Secondary Education. The guide should be viewed as a tool
for individuals who have little or no formal training in research or evaluation.
Its intended informal style and accompanying worksheets provide the basic
principles of evaluation and are designed to help district and school personnel
gain an overview of and ideas for evaluating local technology initiatives.
The 1998
National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity.
On November 19, 1998, the American Library Association (ALA) and the U.S.
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) released
their survey of library connectivity. The survey was conducted by
Dr. John Carlo Bertot, associate professor in the School of Information
Science and Policy at the University at Albany, State University of New
York, and Dr. Charles R. McClure, distinguished professor in the School
of Information Studies at Syracuse (N.Y.) University.
Events
These events may be of interest to evaluators and those looking to learn
more about research and evaluation. TOP does not officially endorse
these events, except where indicated. To suggest an event listing,
send the URL of your event to Dr. Francine Jefferson, fjefferson@ntia.doc.gov.
See also
Publications and Resources — for reports and information from TOP.
TOP Evaluation Specialist
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