This document outlines steps for conducting an evaluation including: 1) defining the purpose and goals of the evaluation, 2) developing evaluation questions within the defined scope, 3) specifying how data will be collected to answer the questions, and 4) analyzing and interpreting the collected data to answer the evaluation questions and ensure results are used for program improvement. Data collection procedures must be standardized and staff properly trained to reliably and validly collect the necessary data.

2.  This helps set the limits of the evaluation,
confining it to a manageable size.
Defining its purpose includes deciding on
the goals and objectives for the
evaluation, and on the audience for the
evaluation results.

3. 1. They help further define the limits of the
evaluation.
2. Evaluation questions should be
developed for each component of the
program which falls into the scope
which was defined in the previous step

4. This step involves specifying the approach to answering the
evaluation questions, including how the required data will be
collected. This will involve:
1. specifying the data sources for each evaluation question;
2. specifying the types of data, data collection approaches,
and instruments needed;
3. specifying the specific time periods for collecting the data;
4. specifying the staff members who will be assigned to
collecting the data, and how their data collection
responsibilities relate to their other project responsibilities; and
5. specifying the resources which will be required to carry out
the evaluation.

5.  The individuals assigned to the various
data collection tasks need to be
thoroughly trained in the data collection
requirements and procedures. Only by
following standardized procedures will
the data be reliable and valid.

6.  This step involves tabulating,
summarizing, and interpreting the
collected data in such a way as to
answer the evaluation questions. These
procedures should be compatible with
the type and amount of data which
were collected, and the goals and
objectives of the evaluation.

7.  The evaluation should not be considered
successful until its results are used by
program managers and decision-makers
for program improvement