AEE 577: Evaluation in Agricultural and Extension Education

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

"Sample survey may be desirable when the required data cannot be obtained as a routine part of pogram activities or when the size ofthe target group is large and it is more economical and effecient to undertake a sample survey than to obtain data on all the participants.”

 Peter H. Rossi, Mark W. Lipsey, & Howard E. Freeman

(Evaluation: A systematic Approach Seventh Edition, 2004)

Class XI: Collecting Evaluation Data
 

The quality of evaluation depends on the quality of data. Therefore, evaluation data collection is an important topic to discuss. In this class you will learn methods of sampling and methods of handling nonresponse error. Also, this lesson will explore the strategies used for increasing response rate.

Instructional Objectives:

Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Describe advantages of sampling;

2. Describe common methods of sampling;

3. Determine the sample size based on the size of the target audience;

4. Draw a random sample;

5. Draw a stratified random sample;

6. Describe strategies for increasing response rate; and

7. Describe nonresponse error controlling techniques.

Required Instructional Activities

1. View Power Point presentation. It provides an overview of designing tools for recording change of knowledge, attitudes, skills, aspirations, and behavior.

2. Read Ellen Taylor-Powell's "Sampling" article.

3. Read Glen Israel's "Sampling the Evidence of Extension Program Impact" article.

4. Read Glen Israel's "Sampling Issues: Nonresponse" article.

Suggested Instructional Activities

1. Read Getting a Good Response Part of the Collecting Evaluation Data: Surveys article written by Ellen Taylor-Powel.

2. Read Communicating the Handling of Nonresponse Error article written by Lindner, J. R. & Wingenbach, G. JAvailable:http://www.joe.org/joe/2002december/rb1.shtml

Required Assignments

All items, unless otherwise noted, are due by 12:00 noon on Monday following the week of the class.

1. Post your questions or comments on the Web CT Vista discussion board and reply to at least two postings submitted by your classmates.

2. Select an evaluation article from the list and do your evaluation article critique. The evaluation article critique is due by April 01.

3. There is no reading assignment for this week.

References

Israel, G. D. (2003). Sampling Issues: Nonresponse. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, Cooperative Extension Service.  Available: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PD008

Israel, G. D. (2003). Sampling the evidence of extension program impact. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, Cooperative Extension Service.  Available:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PD005

Rossi, P. H, Lipsey, M. W., & Freeman, H. E. (2004). Evaluation: A systematic approach (7th edition).  Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. (ISBN 0-7619-0894-3)

Lindner, J. R. & Wingenbach, G. J (2002). Communicating the Handling of Nonresponse Error in Journal of Extension Research in Brief Articles. Journal of Extension, 40 (6). Available: http://www.joe.org/joe/2002december/rb1.shtml

Taylor-Powell, E.  (1998).  Sampling.  University of Wisconsin, Cooperative Extension.  Available: http://learningstore.uwex.edu/pdf/G3658-3.pdf

Taylor-Powell, E.  (2000).  Collecting Evaluation Data: Surveys.  University of Wisconsin, Cooperative Extension.  Available: http://learningstore.uwex.edu/pdf/G3658-10.pdf