Course Schedule
SW 6420: Evaluation of Social Work Practice
School of Social Work
Instructor: Yvonne A. Unrau
 


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Note to Students:
This is an evolving schedule. In other words, the instructor will add required and suggested readings and/or may change the order of topics/activities as the course progresses to better serve students' learning needs.
Class 1:   Introduction to Evaluation
Date:   Wed Jan-09
Reading:  
Competencies:  
  • Understand foundational social science research concepts (i.e., SWRK 6400). Click here for list of basic concepts.
  • Know what is expected of you in this course.
  • Understand the role that the NASW Code of Ethics has to play is evaluation.
  • Articulate the difference between client population, client conditions and problems, practice methods, and research methods .
  • Be able to "view" your practicum through an evaluation lens.
Class 2:   Programs and Interventions
Date:   Wed Jan-16
Reading:  
  • Unrau, Gabor & Grinnell (2007) Chapters 1-3
  • [Waldo] Oakes, J.M. (2002). Risks and wrongs in social science research: An evaluator's guide to the IRB. Evaluation Review, 26(5), 443-479.
  • The Challenge Day Program
Competencies:  
  • Know types and roles of different stakeholders.
  • Explain how evaluation relates to accountability, including IRB.
  • Apply the environment perspective to evaluation.
  • Be able to write high-quality program objectives.
  • Be able to create a simple program logic model.
Class 3:   Programs and Interventions
Date:   Wed Jan-23
Reading:  
Competencies:  
  • See Class 2.
Class 4:   Planning & Politics of Evaluation
Date:   Wed Jan 30
Reading:  
Competencies:  
  • Articulate a variety of strategies for planning evaluation with stakeholders.
  • Know basics steps or questions involved in planning an evaluation.
  • Be able to search for evidence-based literature.
  • Know the uses and misuses of evaluation.
  • Explain the principles & standards for evaluation practice.
  • Know the components of a grant proposal.
  • Create a planning schedule for an evaluation project.
Class 5:   Measurement & Data Collection
Date:   Wed Feb-06
Reading:  
  • Unrau, Gabor & Grinnell (2007) Chapters 9-11
Competencies:  
  • Decide and explain which particular research concepts and skills best apply to a particular evaluation scenario.
  • Be able to create basic instruments to measure program and practice objectives.
  • Know how to locate standardized measuring instruments that are suited to program or practice objectives.
Class 6:   Needs Assessment I
Date:   Wed Feb-13
Reading:  
Competencies:  
  • Explain the difference between social problems and social needs.
  • Know the different types of social needs.
  • Know how to conduct the steps of needs assessment in culturally appropriate ways.
  • Know how to critique a needs assessment report.
Class 7:   Needs Assessment II
Date:   Wed Feb-20
Reading:  
Competencies:  
  • See class 6.
  • Know how to create a program intake form that assesses targeted need.
  • Be able to locate evidence-based literature related to a particular client population/problem.
Class 8:   Midterm Examination
Date:   Wed Feb-27
Reading:  
  • Covers Class 1-7
  • Review Competencies covered in Classes 1-7 for a study guide.
No Class:   Spring Break
Date:   Wed Mar-05
Competencies  
  • Rest, relax, catch-up, get ahead, find balance.
Class 9:   Process Evaluation I
Date:   Wed Mar-12
Reading:  
  • Unrau, Gabor & Grinnell (2007) Chapters 6 & 16
  • [Waldo] Sieppert, J.D., Hudson, J., & Unrau, Y.A. (2000). Family group conferencing in child welfare: Lessons from a demonstration project. Families in Society, 81(4), 382-391.
Competencies  
  • Know the relationship between process evaluation and program services.
  • Be able to draw a client path flow chart.
  • Know how to conduct the steps of a process evaluation in culturally appropriate ways.
  • Be able to critique a process evaluation article.
Class 10:   Process Evaluation II
Date:   Wed Mar-19
Reading:  
  • Unrau, Gabor & Grinnell (2007) Chapters 6 & 16.
  • [Waldo] Sieppert, J.D., Hudson, J., & Unrau, Y.A. (2000). Family group conferencing in child welfare: Lessons from a demonstration project. Families in Society, 81(4), 382-391.
Competencies  
  • See class 9
Class 11:   Outcome Evaluation I
Date:   Wed Mar-26
Reading:  
Competencies  
  • Be able to identify dependent and independent variables in an outcome evaluation.
  • Specify the different types of hypotheses being tested in an outcome evaluation.
  • Know how case-level and group-level research designs are used to evaluate practice and program objectives.
  • Know how to conduct the steps of an outcome evaluation in culturally appropriate ways.
  • Know how to critique an outcome evaluation article.
Class 12:   Outcome Evaluation II
Date:   Wed Apr-02
Reading:  
Competencies  
  • See class 11
Class 13:   Decisions with Data
Date:   Wed Apr-09
Reading:  
  • Unrau, Gabor & Grinnell (2007) Chapters 12-14
  • Using Excel for Analyzing Survey Questions (PDF)
  • Carr, J.E., & Burkholder, E.O. (1998). Creating single-subject design graphs with Microsoft Excel. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 245-251. (Click here for PDF copy of article)
Competencies  
  • Be able to create charts and graphs using Excel.
  • Know how to perform basic analyses with quantitative and qualitative data.
  • Be able to present and interpret basic quantitative and qualitative evaluation results.
Class 14:   Putting it all Together - Evaluation Report
Date:   Wed Apr-16
Reading:  
  • Unrau, Gabor & Grinnell (2007) Chapter 17
Competencies  
  • Know how to work with a group to put together a comprehensive evaluation plan.
Assign:  
  • Group Papers are due at the end of class.
Class 15:   Final Examination
Date:   Wed Apr-23
Reading:  
  • Covers Classes 9 to 14
  • Review Competencies covered in Classes 9-14 for a study guide.
 
 
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