Author: Omolola Adedokun
Planning Unit: Community & Leadership Development
Major Program: Staff Development
Outcome: Initial Outcome
A survey is often the first data collection technique that Extension specialists and agents think of when planning for the evaluation of their programs and outreach efforts. However, a survey may not be the most appropriate approach in every context. As part of ongoing evaluation capacity building efforts, UK Extension Evaluation Director developed and implemented a training entitled “Alternative Evaluation Methods” to provide Extension personnel with best practices for non-survey data collection methods (e.g., rubrics, secondary data, extrapolation of existing evidence, and web analytics). Twenty-one (21) specialists and agents participated in the training of which nineteen (19) responded to a retrospective pretest-posttest evaluation tool. Results showed statistically significant improvement on all learning outcomes. Participants’ overall understanding of non-survey data collection methods increased by 36%. With regards to specific non-survey methods, participants’ understanding of how to extrapolate existing evidence or research for program evaluation increased by 50%; understating of how to use web analytics to demonstrate program impact increased by 43%; and understanding of how to use observation or interview rubrics to gather evaluation data increased by 38%.
An internal review of data in the Kentucky Reporting System (KERS) revealed that only 3% of a random... Read More
Extension excels at working across program areas and disciplinary boundaries to address the complex ... Read More
An internal review of data in the Kentucky Reporting System (KERS) revealed that only 3% of a random... Read More
Extension excels at working across program areas and disciplinary boundaries to address the complex ... Read More