Question 1

One of the major failings in the development and implementation of social service programs is
A) beginning the service without first demonstrating the effectiveness of the service.
B) spending too much effort identifying the needs of the population.
C) saddling the service program with too many requirements to demonstrate its effectiveness.
D) isolating the service program from the political structure of the area needing the service.

Accepted Answer

It is important to demonstrate the effectiveness of a social service program before implementing it to ensure that resources are not wasted on ineffective programs.

Question 2

The effectiveness of social services has often not been evaluated because
A) the values of all such services are already well documented.
B) the desired outcomes are indeed hard to measure.
C) it is usually sufficient to merely show interest in helping.
D) government regulations forbid evaluations of human services.

Accepted Answer

The effectiveness of social services has often not been evaluated because the desired outcomes are indeed hard to measure. It can be difficult to determine the impact of social services on individuals and communities, as there are often multiple factors at play and it may take time to see the full effects of the services provided.

Question 3

Evaluators have often
A) ignored existing measures of the outcomes of services.
B) failed to contact the managers of programs.
C) used large samples with low Type II errors.
D) overlooked possible negative side effects of programs.

Accepted Answer

Evaluators have often overlooked possible negative side effects of programs. It is important to consider the unintended consequences of a program or service, as they can have a significant impact on the individuals or communities affected.

Question 4

Program evaluation gets confused with basic research when evaluators
A) focus on the needs of the program sponsor.
B) become advocates for the program participants.
C) ignore practical issues in order to examine theoretical questions.
D) use variables suggested by the staff of service programs.

Accepted Answer

Program evaluation should focus on practical issues and measure the effectiveness of programs in achieving their stated objectives. Basic research, on the other hand, is more theoretical in nature and seeks to generate new knowledge. If evaluators ignore practical issues in order to examine theoretical questions, they may be getting confused with basic research. Focusing on the needs of the program sponsor (A) or becoming advocates for the program participants (B) are not necessarily signs of confusion with basic research. Using variables suggested by program staff (D) is a common practice in program evaluation and does not indicate confusion with basic research.

Question 5

An evaluation of need refers to evaluations that
A) are similar to performance appraisals.
B) isolate the costs of providing various services.
C) are particularly useful in planning a new program.
D) violate fundamental scientific standards.

Accepted Answer

An evaluation of need is typically used to assess the necessity of a new program or service. It may involve collecting and analyzing data related to the population in question, including demographic information, health or social indicators, and the availability of existing services. This type of evaluation is useful for identifying gaps in services and developing solutions to address them.

Question 6

Evaluations of process often focus on the degree to which
A) a program is successful.
B) a specific service is needed in a community.
C) the costs required to run a program can be justified.
D) the program is implemented as planned.

Accepted Answer

Evaluations of process focus on how well a program is implemented, including whether it is carried out as planned, on budget, and on schedule. Other factors, such as the program's success or level of need in the community, may also be evaluated, but these are not the primary focus of process evaluations.

Question 7

Outcome evaluations provide the data to show whether
A) a service has achieved appropriate results.
B) a target population will use a service.
C) the evaluator has made every effort to work with the program director in an effective manner.
D) resources were spent on programs that are most needed.

Accepted Answer

Outcome evaluations provide data on whether a service has achieved appropriate results or not. It measures the impact of the service on the target population and assesses whether the program is meeting its goals and objectives. Therefore, option A is the correct choice. Option B is not correct as it refers to assessing the demand for a service, which is done through needs assessments. Option C is not correct as it refers to collaboration between the evaluator and program director, which may be necessary but does not relate to outcome evaluations. Option D is partially correct as outcome evaluations do help assess whether resources were used effectively, but it is not the primary goal of this evaluation.

Question 8

When an evaluation relates the cost of a program to its outcomes, this form of evaluation can be thought of as
A) an evaluation of performance.
B) an evaluation of efficiency.
C) a variant of basic research.
D) overly scientific.

Accepted Answer

When an evaluation relates the cost of a program to its outcomes it is focused on efficiency, which means doing things in the most economical and effective way possible. This is important to measure when evaluating a program's success.

Question 9

Formative evaluation is to summative evaluation as
A) process is to outcome.
B) constructive criticism is to final grades.
C) apples are to apple pies.
D) cancellation is to initiation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Formative evaluation is to summative evaluation as
A)...

Question 10

The purpose of a formative evaluation is to provide information to program sponsors
A) making decisions about maintaining or terminating the program.
B) to minimize the effects of arbitrary federal requirements for program evaluations.
C) making program improvements.
D) for public relations needs.

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a formative evaluation is to provide feedback and information that can be used to make program improvements. It is not primarily focused on program termination or public relations, although these factors may be considered as part of the evaluation process. Additionally, minimizing the effects of federal requirements is not a primary goal of formative evaluation.

Question 11

It is sometimes hard to learn who is conducting program evaluations in an organization because
A) few organizations really need to have their services evaluated.
B) formal evaluations are conducted by most managers of service programs.
C) the job titles of evaluators are not standardized.
D) when evaluations are completed, they usually look like basic research.

Accepted Answer

The job titles of evaluators are not standardized, making it difficult to identify who is conducting program evaluations in an organization. This makes it important to clarify and communicate the roles and responsibilities of evaluators within an organization.

Question 12

If the management of an organization plans to maintain or eliminate a service on the basis of its documented degree of effectiveness, then a
A) summative evaluation is needed.
B) needs analysis should be conducted.
C) formative evaluation is needed.
D) person familiar with the program should conduct an evaluation.

Accepted Answer

A summative evaluation is a type of evaluation that assesses the overall effectiveness of a program or service. In this case, the management wants to make a decision about maintaining or eliminating a service based on its documented degree of effectiveness. Therefore, a summative evaluation is needed to determine the effectiveness of the service and make an informed decision. A needs analysis would be useful to identify the purpose and goals of the service, but it would not provide enough information to determine its effectiveness. A formative evaluation is used to continually improve a program or service and would not be relevant in this case. It would be beneficial to have someone familiar with the program conduct the evaluation, but this is not the most important factor in this situation.

Question 13

The strongest advantage that an external evaluator has over an internal evaluator is
A) the trust he/she has built up over years.
B) more well-developed analytic skills.
C) the potential to be more objective.
D) the influence to see that the findings are used by the program staff.

Accepted Answer

The strongest advantage that an external evaluator has over an internal evaluator is the potential to be more objective. An external evaluator is not as close to the program and its staff as an internal evaluator, so he/she does not have as strong a bias. Therefore, the findings of an external evaluator are often considered more trustworthy and objective than those of an internal evaluator.

Question 14

The four major forms of program evaluation are
A) internal, external, conclusion, and construct.
B) performance, institutional, accountability, and program review.
C) need, process, outcome, and efficiency.
D) community, governmental, professional, and special interest.

Accepted Answer

The four major forms of program evaluation are need, process, outcome, and efficiency. Option A is incorrect as it does not list any forms of program evaluation. Option B is incorrect as it lists some types of evaluations, but not all four major forms. Option D is incorrect as it categorizes evaluations based on the evaluator instead of the type of evaluation being performed.

Question 15

A process evaluation would probably NOT include which one of the following questions?
A) Do the program's actual participants represent the target population?
B) How much staff-client contact really occurs?
C) Do actual staff activities match the program plan?
D) Is the program cost-effective?

Accepted Answer

A process evaluation focuses on the implementation of a program rather than its outcomes, so questions related to cost-effectiveness would not typically be included. Questions A, B, and C are all relevant to understanding how well the program is being implemented and whether it is reaching its intended audience.

Question 16

Internal program evaluators usually have which following advantage over consultant evaluators?
A) better statistical and research competence
B) better support staff
C) a more objective approach to the program
D) more complete knowledge of the organization sponsoring the program

Accepted Answer

Internal program evaluators have the advantage of having more complete knowledge of the organization sponsoring the program, which can give them a more in-depth understanding of the program's context, culture, and stakeholders. They may also have better access to data and information about the program. However, the other options (A, B, and C) may not necessarily be true for all internal evaluators, as some may not have the same level of statistical or research competence, support staff, or objectivity as external consultants.

Question 17

Program evaluation is frequently confused with
A) billing and accounting procedures.
B) basic research and individual assessment.
C) therapist's progress notes.
D) crisis management methodology.

Accepted Answer

Program evaluation is a specific type of research that aims to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of a particular program or intervention. It is different from basic research, which seeks to generate new knowledge, and individual assessment, which focuses on evaluating the needs and progress of individual clients. Program evaluation is also not related to billing and accounting procedures or crisis management methodologies, although it may involve collecting data on program costs and identifying areas for improvement.

Question 18

The ultimate purposes of program evaluation include
A) the collection of data on the outcome of services.
B) an assessment of how program staff people spend their time so that ineffective staff members can be identified.
C) making decisions about the proper groups a program should serve.
D) the improvement of implemented programs and the wise selection among possible programs.

Accepted Answer

The ultimate purposes of program evaluation include improving implemented programs and making wise decisions among possible programs. Collecting data on the outcome of services is a part of this process, as is identifying ineffective staff members, but these are not the ultimate goals of program evaluation. Making decisions about the proper groups a program should serve may be a part of program planning, but is not a goal of evaluation.

Question 19

Monitoring is a form of evaluation which focuses on
A) providing definitive proof that a program is worth the investment.
B) being sure that data are available to make refinements in a program.
C) providing frequent feedback to be sure a program stays on track.
D) financial resources so that funds are not misspent.

Accepted Answer

Monitoring is focused on providing frequent feedback to ensure that a program stays on track. It does not necessarily aim to provide definitive proof or prevent financial misallocation, but rather aims to make regular adjustments to ensure that a program is meeting its goals.

Question 20

Implementation of programs should be examined because
A) fraud is rampant in social programs.
B) irresponsible service providers often destroy programs.
C) internal evaluators usually ignore this issue.
D) programs are less effective when not offered at full strength.

Accepted Answer

Proper implementation is crucial for programs to be effective. If a program is not offered at full strength, it may not be able to achieve its intended outcomes. Therefore, it is important to examine the implementation of programs to ensure that they are implemented correctly and effectively.

Quiz 1: Program Evaluation : an Overview

One of the major failings in the development and implementation of social service programs is

The effectiveness of social services has often not been evaluated because

Evaluators have often

Program evaluation gets confused with basic research when evaluators

An evaluation of need refers to evaluations that

Evaluations of process often focus on the degree to which

Outcome evaluations provide the data to show whether

When an evaluation relates the cost of a program to its outcomes, this form of evaluation can be thought of as

Formative evaluation is to summative evaluation as

The purpose of a formative evaluation is to provide information to program sponsors

It is sometimes hard to learn who is conducting program evaluations in an organization because

If the management of an organization plans to maintain or eliminate a service on the basis of its documented degree of effectiveness, then a

The strongest advantage that an external evaluator has over an internal evaluator is

The four major forms of program evaluation are

A process evaluation would probably NOT include which one of the following questions?

Internal program evaluators usually have which following advantage over consultant evaluators?

Program evaluation is frequently confused with

The ultimate purposes of program evaluation include

Monitoring is a form of evaluation which focuses on

Implementation of programs should be examined because