1. Tools for public policy management and analysis
Measurement, monitoring and evaluation: concepts, functions and utility for public management. Key concepts in measurement: variables, indicators, measure, indexes and standards. Indicators: methodological requirements and types. Indicators systems and monitoring systems.
2. Public program evaluation: key elements and functions. Politics and evaluation
Objectives, evaluative questions and value criteria. Functions of evaluation. Stakeholders and the political dimension of evaluation. Institutionalization process and ethical codes.
3. Types of evaluation
Depending on who evaluates (external, internal), depending on the evaluation role (formative, summative), according to what is the evaluand (evaluabillity, design, implementation, outcomes, impacts and metaevaluation) and according to the moment at which the evaluation takes place (ex ante, intermediate, final, ex post). Other types of evaluation: needs assessment and economical evaluation.
4. Theoretical perspectives and approaches in evaluation
Objectives-based studies. Experimental designs. Decision-oriented studies. Responsive evaluation or client-centered studies. Utilization-focused evaluation. Naturalistic evaluation. Theory-based evaluation.
5. Designing and planning an evaluation
The context and the reasons to evaluate. Focusing the evaluation. The decisions about methodology and techniques. Identifying stakeholders. Roles of evaluators.
6. Implementation of the evaluation
The evaluation plan. Fieldwork. Interpretation, judgement and recommendations. Reporting and communicating results. The use of evaluation findings.