Process and Outcome Evaluations

Process evaluation as a concept is the documentation and monitoring of three elements of a human service organization or program. These are planning of the program, the implementation of the program and the relationship of all the components within a human service organization like PEACE. Process evaluation is also characteristic of having both the qualitative and quantitative data and the data can then be used for the documentation as to the suitability and acceptability of the program and how the program would benefit the targeted population. The process evaluation mainly focuses on program planning and development. This is achieved by having the staff do some questionnaires regarding the activities, the expected work schedules, the organizational support and the community linkage, upon which the program can thus be evaluated and where necessary changes are implemented. Satisfaction surveys are also carried out on the target community for evaluation. Process evaluations thus seeks to document the effectiveness that is achieved out of the staff recruitment, the hiring and training done by the program, the planning and development of the program, the program’s usage, the satisfaction of the participant’s and staff under the program, amongst other multifaceted issues (Mackinnon, 2003).

The main characteristic of outcome evaluations on the other hand is to lay focus on the effectiveness of intervention strategies under the program. This is accomplished by comparing the differences in data that has been collected over a period of time. The determination of the information is done by the use of pretests and posttests (Yuen & Terao, 2003). Outcome evaluations thus seek to measure the program’s dependability and determine whether the programs are replicable.

The first example of outcome evaluation can be in the form of the number of Portland city residents who recover from trauma is 97% as compared to a .005% who continued to suffer trauma from past experiences. The second example is a reflection of the institutional funding for trauma recovery services being $ 10,000 in 2007 with the same increasing to $ 30,000 in 2008 due to funding by the PEACE program.

Outcome evaluation includes a reflection of the PEACE program counselors assisting the trauma victims through counseling programs. Another example is seeking to question the trauma patients undertaking the PEACE program as to whether the program is effective.