Qualitative Evaluation Methods

Description: Qualitative inquiries use in-depth interviews, focus groups, observational methods, community documents, and case studies to provide rich descriptions of people, programs, and community processes. To be credible and useful, the unique sampling, design, and analysis approaches of qualitative methods must be understood and used. Qualitative data can be used for various purposes including evaluating individualized outcomes, capturing program processes, exploring a new area of interest (e.g., to identify the unknown variables one might want to measure in greater depth/breadth), identifying unanticipated consequences, and side effects, supporting participatory evaluations, assessing quality, and humanizing evaluations by portraying the people and stories behind the numbers. This class will cover the basics of qualitative evaluation, including design, data collection techniques, and beginning analysis. Ways of increasing the rigor and credibility of qualitative evaluations will be examined. Mixed methods approaches will be included. Alternative qualitative strategies and new, innovative directions will complete the course. The strengths and weaknesses of various qualitative methods will be identified.  Exercises will provide experience in applying qualitative methods and analyses in evaluations.

Individuals enrolled in this class will each receive one copy of Dr. Patton's text: Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, Sage, 2002, 3rd Edition.

Caveat: Detailed work on analysis and use of qualitative software will not be part of this course, but is covered in a separate TEI course. Qualitative analysis is addressed only in being sure that participants understand the analysis implications of various qualitative approaches and strategies.

Instructor: Dr. Michael Quinn Patton directs an organizational development and evaluation consulting business, "Utilization-Focused Evaluation." He has been an evaluation consultant for 30 years and has worked at local, state, national, and international levels. He has evaluated a wide variety of programs in areas as diverse as health, human services, education, cooperative extension, environment, agriculture, employment, training, leadership development, literacy, early childhood and parent education, poverty alleviation, economic development, and advocacy. He has consulted with non-profit, philanthropic, private sector, and international organizations. His consulting practice has included program evaluation, strategic planning, conflict resolution, board facilitation, staff development, futuring, and a variety of organizational development approaches.

He is author of five books on program evaluation including Utilization-Focused Evaluation: The New Century Text (Sage, 1997) and Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods (3rd edition, Sage, 2002). He is a former President of the American Evaluation Association (AEA); received the Alva and Gunner Myrdal Award from the Evaluation Research Society for "outstanding contributions to evaluation use and practice" and the Paul Lazarsfeld Award for lifetime contributions to evaluation theory from AEA. He has held many positions including Director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Social Research and received that University's Morse-Amoco Award for outstanding teaching. His latest book, with two Canadian colleagues, is Getting to Maybe: How the World Is Changed (Random House Canada, 2006).

Certificates: CEP IB.h or CAEP IIB.h

Fee: $795