Planning the Evaluation

Are You Ready for Evaluation?

Not all programs are ready to be evaluated; that is, they are not able to provide information or otherwise fully participate in the evaluation. To determine whether a program is ready for evaluation, evaluators have developed the process of "evaluability assessment." An evaluability assessment, undertaken prior to an evaluation, is designed to address the question of whether the program can participate fully in an evaluation. Some examples of questions that can be addressed in an evaluability assessment are listed below.

Is there a formal program design or model in place?

Programs must be able to document their goals and objectives, and the strategies they employ to achieve those goals and objectives.

Is the program design or model a sound one?

If program goals are unrealistic or strategies are not based in theory or prior evidence, or if program managers cannot explain how the activities and services they provide are expected to lead to the program’s desired outcomes, then evaluation is not a good investment.

Can the program participate in the evaluation?

Evaluations require data and information. If the program does not collect data, and has no capacity to generate data, then the evaluation will not be successful.

Example of an Evaluability Assessment

The Youth Monitoring Program

Learn More...

Assessing Readiness for Evaluation (National Institute of Justice)

Determining Whether to Evaluate at All (National Institute of Justice)

Evaluability Assessment: Examining the Readiness of a Program for Evaluation (Justice Research and Statistics Association)

Selecting Critical Programs (Department of Housing and Urban Development)

Time Frame for Evaluation (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)

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