{"product_id":"smallscale-evaluation-9781412962483","title":"SmallScale Evaluation","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvaluation research can assess the value and effectiveness of interventions and innovations involving people. While this has often been on a grand scale, this book focuses on small-scale projects carried out by an individual or small group, typically lasting for weeks or at most a few months, at a local rather than national level.Using limited jargon and featuring integrated, real-world examples, this second edition offers a clear, accessible background to evaluation and prepares you to undertake your own small-scale evaluation research project.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eKey features includediscussionof:\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cul\u003e      \u003cli\u003eDifferent approaches to evaluation and how to choose between them\u003c\/li\u003e      \u003cli\u003eThe advantages and disadvantages of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)\u003c\/li\u003e      \u003cli\u003eRealist evaluation andits increasing importance\u003c\/li\u003e      \u003cli\u003eThe centrality of ethical and political issues\u003c\/li\u003e      \u003cli\u003eThe influence and opportunity of the Internet\u003cbr\u003e      \u003c\/li\u003e  \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cp\u003eTightly focused on the\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA masterfully written text making complex issues approachable and very workable! Robson’s personable style as if engaged in a conversation with the reader entices and enlightens. It is rare to find a text that to such an extent combines user-friendliness and an engaging style without compromising scientific stringency, ethics or practical usefulness and common sense. This is indeed a treasure trove for students and professionals of any kind and everywhere whose study or work involves people in groups and organisations in need of development, change or just a healthy reality check on how their organisation is doing.\u003c\/p\u003e -- Roland S Persson\u003cbr\u003eThis is a marvelous book. It communicates clearly and directly to the reader, making the subject accessible and usable rather than abstruse or forbidding.  Robson excels in thinking with the reader and getting the reader to think along with him, so that reading his work seems like collaborating with a helpful mentor.  Supported by many helpful diagrams and charts, he uses real-world situations, contexts, examples, and research literature to give the reader an understanding of how she might go about conducting actual research using this book as a guide.  He discusses the challenges a researcher can face in conducting evaluations, such as getting those being studied to collaborate in the research project, and the strengths and weaknesses, benefits and pitfalls of so doing. And it is of great value that his focus is specifically on small-scale evaluation, because that is the type of evaluation in which a student or budding researcher is most likely to be involved.  Robson is a great demystifier and guide--other research texts would benefit greatly from adopting Robson′s style of thinking, writing, and guiding.\u003cbr\u003e -- Jeremy J. Shapiro\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChapter 1: Introduction    Who is the book for?    What do you need to be able to carry out an evaluation?    Evaluation research    Small-scale evaluation research    The literature search    The Internet    Using the book    A note on ′Tasks′ Chapter 2: Evaluation: The What and the Why    What is evaluation?    Why evaluate?    Evaluation and social research    What do they think they want?    What are they going to find credible? Chapter 3: The Advantages of Collaboration    Stakeholders    Other models of involvement    Using consultants    Persuading others to be involved    When is some form of participatory evaluation indicated? Chapter 4: Evaluation Designs    Different approaches to evaluation    Needs assessment    Outcome evaluation    Process evaluation    Combining process and outcome approaches    Formative and summative evaluation    Efficiency evaluation    Reviews    Program monitoring    Theory-based evaluation    An interim summing up Chapter 5: Designing Your Evaluation    Reviewing the ′literature′    Research questions    Methods of data collection    Data quality    Sampling    Prespecified and emergent designs    Doing a shoe-string evaluation Chapter 6: Ethical and Political Considerations    Ethical issues    The problem of unintended consequences    Evaluations involving children and other vulnerable populations    Ethical issues in online research    Ethical boards and committees    The politics of evaluation Chapter 7: Practicalities    Time budgeting    Gaining access    Getting organized    Getting help and support Chapter 8: Dealing with the Data    Coding data    Analysis and interpretation of quantitative data    Analysis and interpretation of qualitative data Chapter 9: Communicating the Findings    Evaluation reports    Facilitating the implementation of evaluation findings Chapter 10: Taking it further    Further reading    Postscript Appendix A: Chapter Tasks Appendix B: Simple Evaluations","brand":"SAGE Publications Inc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51019814797655,"sku":"9781412962483","price":42.74,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781412962483.jpg?v=1750781345","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/smallscale-evaluation-9781412962483","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}