Marina Kolmanovsky PAD 700

Prof. O'Hara 05/01/00

1 Process evaluation is a continuous procedure of reviewing program operation. It can be done after the program is completed, but often it takes place at the time of program operation. Process evaluation helps to determine what should be done to improve or make better the program's goals and outcome. An evaluator who is concerned with process evaluation would examine the agency's actions, together with allocation of financial and human resources and proposal of service delivery methods. The evaluator should also investigate if any legal violations have occurred, in addition to violation of individual rights.

In contrast to process evaluation, outcome evaluation is more concerned with performance measurement, aftermath of program activity and whether the results of the program meet the expectation of the environment. Outcome evaluation assists legislators and others who are concerned with performance of various programs to decide which programs should be eliminated or continued and how much funding should be allocated to each program.

In evaluating the MPA program, I would measure the same factors in outcome evaluation and process evaluation. After reading the definition of both evaluations, I believe that they are similar. Their main goal is to make sure that the program is implemented correctly and the outcome satisfies the public. In evaluating the MPA program the following factors are very important:

1. How is it ranked in comparison to other colleges that offer MPA?
2. Are the students able to find better jobs, achieve promotion or salary increase after completing the MPA program?
3. What do students think about the program? Does it meet their expectations?
4. How many people graduate annually from the program and what is a drop out rate?
5. What changes should be made to make the program better?
6. Are the students satisfied with various classes that are offered in the MPA program?

Should any classes be eliminated or expanded?

Since this program is designed for us, the students, it is very important to find out how we feel about the program.

An internet class, such as this one, would be one of the factors that can be used to measure outcome and process evaluations. The students who signed up for this class where asked to fill out the survey, explaining why they decided to pick an internet class. I would assume that we would be asked to fill out another survey at the end of the semester asking us to evaluate the success of the internet class. This would help an evaluator to determine whether the objective of the internet class was met and the impact it had on the students.

2. A governor of a Middle Atlantic state has asked me to implement a patrol type

that would lower the number of accidents that occur on highways. A report by the federal Department of Transportation indicates that a lot of motorists are exceeding the federally enforced speed limit. The governor stresses that the main goal is to stop accidents by slowing traffic to the legal speed, that is not currently observed by too many motorists, and to prevent a cutoff federal money.

The three types of patrol that I may choose from are:

Stationary radar trap patrol

Cruising car patrol

Airplane/chase car patrol

After reviewing the three types of patrol, I decided to pick cruising patrol because it is cost effective, it would help to reduce number of accidents and fine motorists who do not observe the federally mandate speed limit. Cruising patrol is more effective than stationary patrol, because it would only cost $200 more but at the same time it would decrease the probability of two accidents by 20% or .20 probability of two accidents. Cruising patrol is also more effective than airplane patrol, because it costs $700 less and with a slight insignificant increase of .5% or .05 probability of two accidents. Since cruising patrol would allow for police to fine 5 motorists, instead of 3 motorists in airplane patrol, perhaps this would permit to fine more motorists, who would eventually observe the speed limit. This would lead to fewer accidents or no accidents at all.