Along with our students, we have been exploring the mechanisms around the evolution of capsaicin in Capsicum peppers. Did capsaicin evolve to deter mammalian herbivores, and/or did it evolve to inhibit the growth of microbial pathogens that might interfere with germination? Mammalian herbivores: Birds are a pepper’s best friend because they don’t have teeth to destroy the seed and they can fly a long way before dropping the seed in their feces (unscathed), effectively dispersing the seed away from its parents. Herbivorous mammals, however, grind up pepper seeds with their molars, rendering them incapable of germinating. Researchers have hypothesized that the first pepper plants to synthesize capsaicin received a tremendous benefit in the form of reduced mammalian herbivory – mammals have receptors for capsaicin and ‘feel the burn’ (1). Birds do not have these receptors and can eat as many peppers as they want without any ill effects (1)! We have been conducting experiments testing the efficacy capsaicin in deterring small mammals. We have found evidence that capsaicin may reduce rates of songbird nest depredation (by squirrells). Here’s our poster from the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Spokane, April 2015: Capsaicin Poster Final_4 2 2015 Anti-microbial properties: Peppers take a very long time to germinate (1-4 months compared to 1-10 days for tomatoes). This long period of dormancy is common to many plants, and in general is thought to have evolved to maximize the chances that the seed will germinate in ideal conditions (2). In other words, if we get a week of warm weather in February followed by a week of freezing conditions, pepper seeds will be fine because they won’t have germinated. Tomato seeds, on the other hand, may have germinated and then been killed by the freezing weather. A potential negative consequence of this long germination time is prolonged exposure to bacterial and fungal pathogens in the soil. These pathogens would love to have access to the starches in the pepper seed! Some researchers have hypothesized that the first peppers to synthesize capsaicin received a tremendous benefit in the form of decreased seed mortality and increased germination success (1,3). We have been conducting experiments on the ability of capsaicin to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. Although our results are preliminary, we have found that capsaicin appears to speed the growth of yeast! We have yet to find any inhibition of the growth of bacteria. Resources Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do. (2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books. · Chapters 9, “Is the Intervention Effective?” (pp. 213–250) · Chapter 10, “Analyzing Evaluation Data” (pp. 255–275) McNamara, C. (2006a). Contents of an evaluation plan. In Basic guide to program evaluation (including outcomes evaluation). Retrieved from http://managementhelp.org/evaluation/program-evaluation-guide.htm#anchor1586742. McNamara, C. (2006.

1. Along with our students, we have been exploring the
mechanisms around the evolution of capsaicin in Capsicum
peppers. Did capsaicin evolve to deter mammalian herbivores,
and/or did it evolve to inhibit the growth of microbial pathogens
that might interfere with germination?
Mammalian herbivores: Birds are a pepper’s best friend because
they don’t have teeth to destroy the seed and they can fly a long
way before dropping the seed in their feces (unscathed),
effectively dispersing the seed away from its parents.
Herbivorous mammals, however, grind up pepper seeds with
their molars, rendering them incapable of germinating.
Researchers have hypothesized that the first pepper plants to
synthesize capsaicin received a tremendous benefit in the form
of reduced mammalian herbivory – mammals have receptors for
capsaicin and ‘feel the burn’ (1). Birds do not have these
receptors and can eat as many peppers as they want without any
ill effects (1)! We have been conducting experiments testing
the efficacy capsaicin in deterring small mammals. We have
found evidence that capsaicin may reduce rates of songbird nest
depredation (by squirrells). Here’s our poster from the National
Conference on Undergraduate Research in Spokane, April 2015:
Capsaicin Poster Final_4 2 2015
Anti-microbial properties: Peppers take a very long time to
germinate (1-4 months compared to 1-10 days for tomatoes).
This long period of dormancy is common to many plants, and in
general is thought to have evolved to maximize the chances that
the seed will germinate in ideal conditions (2). In other words,
if we get a week of warm weather in February followed by a
week of freezing conditions, pepper seeds will be fine because
they won’t have germinated. Tomato seeds, on the other hand,
may have germinated and then been killed by the freezing
weather. A potential negative consequence of this long

2. germination time is prolonged exposure to bacterial and fungal
pathogens in the soil. These pathogens would love to have
access to the starches in the pepper seed! Some researchers have
hypothesized that the first peppers to synthesize capsaicin
received a tremendous benefit in the form of decreased seed
mortality and increased germination success (1,3). We have
been conducting experiments on the ability of capsaicin to
inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. Although our results
are preliminary, we have found that capsaicin appears to speed
the growth of yeast! We have yet to find any inhibition of the
growth of bacteria.
Resources
Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what
we do. (2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.
· Chapters 9, “Is the Intervention Effective?” (pp. 213–250)
· Chapter 10, “Analyzing Evaluation Data” (pp. 255–275)
McNamara, C. (2006a). Contents of an evaluation plan. In Basic
guide to program evaluation (including outcomes evaluation).
Retrieved from http://managementhelp.org/evaluation/program-
evaluation-guide.htm#anchor1586742.
McNamara, C. (2006b). Reasons for priority on implementing
outcomes-based evaluation. In Basic guide to outcomes-based
evaluation for nonprofit organizations with very limited
resources. Retrieved from
http://managementhelp.org/evaluation/outcomes-evaluation-
guide.htm#anchor30249.
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014b).
Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD:
Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-

3. reader].
Read the following section:
· “Social Work Research: Planning a Program Evaluation”
Nash, J., & Flynn, R. J. (2009). Foster-parent training and
foster-child outcomes: An exploratory cross-sectional analysis.
Vulnerable Children & Youth Studies, 4(2), 128–134.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Rork, K. E., & McNeil. C. B. (2011). Evaluation of foster
parent training programs: A critical review. Child & Family
Behavior Therapy, 33(2), 139–170.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Social Work Research: Planning a Program Evaluation
Joan is a social worker who is currently enrolled in a social
work PhD program. She is planning to conduct her dissertation
research project with a large nonprofit child welfare
organization where she has worked as a site coordinator for
many years. She has already approached the agency director
with her interest, and the leadership team of the agency stated
that they would like to collaborate on the research project.
The child welfare organization at the center of the planned
study has seven regional centers that operate fairly
independently. The primary focus of work is on foster care; that
is, recruiting and training foster parents and running a regular
foster care program with an emphasis on family foster care. The
agency has a residential program as well, but it will not
participate in the study. Each of the regional centers services
about 45–50 foster parents and approximately 100 foster

4. children. On average, five to six new foster families are
recruited at each center on a quarterly basis. This number has
been consistent over the past 2 years.
Recently it was decided that a new training program for
incoming foster parents would be used by the organization. The
primary goals of this new training program include reducing
foster placement disruptions, improving the quality of services
delivered, and increasing child well-being through better trained
and skilled foster families. Each of the regional centers will
participate and implement the new training program. Three of
the sites will start the program immediately, while the other
four centers will not start until 12 months from now. The new
training program consists of six separate 3-hour training
sessions that are typically conducted in a biweekly format. It is
a fairly proceduralized training program; that is, a very detailed
set of manuals and training materials exists. All trainings will
be conducted by the same two instructors. The current training
program that it will replace differs considerably in its focus, but
it also uses a 6-week, 3-hour format. It will be used by those
sites not immediately participating until the new program is
implemented.
Joan has done a thorough review of the foster care literature and
has found that there has been no research on the training
program to date, even though it is being used by a growing
number of agencies. She also found that there are some
standardized instruments that she could use for her study. In
addition, she would need to create a set of Likert-type scales for
the study. She will be able to use a group design because all
seven regional centers are interested in participating and they
are starting the training at different times.
(Plummer 66-67)
Plummer, Sara-Beth, Sara Makris, Sally Brocksen. Social Work
Case Studies: Concentration Year. Laureate Publishing,
10/21/13. VitalBook file.

5. Assignment: Designing a Plan for Outcome Evaluation
Social workers can apply knowledge and skills learned from
conducting one type of evaluation to others. Moreover,
evaluations themselves can inform and complement each other
throughout the life of a program. This week, you apply all that
you have learned about program evaluation throughout this
course to aid you in program evaluation.
To prepare for this Assignment, review “Basic Guide to
Program Evaluation (Including Outcomes Evaluation)” from this
week’s resources, Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S.
(Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration
year. Retrieved from http://www.vitalsource.com , especially
the sections titled “Outcomes-Based Evaluation” and “Contents
of an Evaluation Plan.” Then, select a program that you would
like to evaluate. You should build on work that you have done
in previous assignments but be sure to self-cite any written
work that you have already submitted. Complete as many areas
of the “Contents of an Evaluation Plan” as possible, leaving out
items that assume you have already collected and analyzed the
data.
Submit a 4- to 5-page paper that outlines a plan for a program
evaluation focused on outcomes. Be specific and elaborate.
Include the following information:
· The purpose of the evaluation, including specific questions to
be answered
· The outcomes to be evaluated
· The indicators or instruments to be used to measure those
outcomes, including the strengths and limitations of those
measures to be used to evaluate the outcomes
· A rationale for selecting among the six group research designs

6. · The methods for collecting, organizing and analyzing data