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An examination of how evaluators and evaluation clients choose data collection methods: The factors and decision-making process
Abstract
This dissertation examines the beliefs held by evaluation clients and evaluators about data collection methodologies used during an evaluation. Through a semi-structured interview format, client and evaluator pairs (N = 13) discussed their evaluation experiences, how they chose the data that would be collected, who made the data collection decisions, and what factors affected these decisions. These interviews were tape recorded and verbatim transcriptions were made. These data were analyzed using a case study approach which yielded descriptions of four types of individuals. The first group (all clients) used a post-positivistic perspective, but lacked specific methodologies for collecting data. The second group (clients and evaluators) had moved from needing to interact with program personnel and program recipients to wanting numerical data to use in decision making; they operated from a positivistic paradigm. The third group, all evaluators, encorporated some qualitative data into their evaluations, but did not use a naturalistic philosophy during the conception or analyses of these data. The last group used a mixed methods approach and relied on both paradigms. The most salient factors clients and evaluators took into consideration when choosing data collection strategies were internal factors such as their educational training and experiences prior to this evaluation. Other factors such as time constraints, budgetary constraints, professional standards, paradigmatic beliefs, political atmosphere, and needs of the stakeholders also were examined.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy|Academic guidance counseling
Recommended Citation
Benkofske, Marie Therese, "An examination of how evaluators and evaluation clients choose data collection methods: The factors and decision-making process" (1996). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9623619.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9623619