Course Description: Concepts and research drawn from the social sciences relevant to evaluating youth and adult extension programs.

Course Objectives: Upon completing the course, students should be able to conceptualize and carry out the evaluation of extension programs. Specifically, students should be able to:

1. Define evaluation and related concepts and describe the role of evaluation in extension programming.

2. Understand relationships among evaluators, stakeholders, program staff, and clientele.

3. Identify an evaluation problem for selected extension programs.

4. Identify appropriate evaluation designs for county and state level programs.

5. Understand and apply evaluation models for selected problems and designs.

6. Identify and compare data collection techniques for obtaining evaluation data.

7. Identify measures and develop instrumentation for collecting evaluation data.

8. Apply social science research methods to obtain evaluation data.

9. Analyze evaluation data.

10. Prepare a fact sheet summary of the evaluation results.

Text: Students are expected to purchase the text:

Rossi, Peter H. and Howard E. Feeman. 1993. Evaluation: A Systematic Approach. 5th ed. Newberry Park, CA: Sage Publications.

Worthen, Blaine R., James R. Sanders and Jody L. Fitzpatrick. 1997. Program Evaluation: Alternative Approaches and Practical Guidelines. 2^nd ed. NY: Longman.

Additional Readings: Supplementary readings will be assigned. Photocopies of these will be distributed in class. Assignments will be available at least one week in advance.

Course Assignments: A project series, as well as evaluation abstracts, a mid-term and final exam will comprise the assignments. Given the nature of the course, students are expected to attend and participate in discussions for all scheduled classes.

Project Series:

1. Select a major Extension/research program to evaluate, interview a significant actor in the program, and prepare a description of the program and its evaluation needs.

2. Develop an evaluation plan with a description and rationale for the objectives, design and model, and data collection procedures.

3. Identify measures and draft instrumentation; include an explanation of measures and data collection instruments.

4. Collect and analyze data or conduct data analysis exercise; Develop a 1-2 page fact sheet summarizing the evaluation results.

5. Complete a comprehensive project report, using items 1-4 and supplementary material.

Evaluation Abstracts: Four evaluation studies will be provided for students to read and prepare and abstract. Each abstract should briefly review the study and provide a critique of the evaluation methodology.

Mid-term Exam: The exam will be based on readings and lectures. The format will be short answer and essay.

Final Exam: The exam will be based on readings and lectures. It will be comprehensive.

Served on the following committees:

(3) M.Ag. Agricultural Education and Communication

(5) M.S. Agricultural Education and Communication

(2) M.S. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

(1) Ph.D. Sociology