Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment
Data Collection
Data collection is at the core of program evaluation, but as the adage goes, "Garbage in = garbage out." Information gathered about your program is only useful if careful program planning has specified what should be measured and why. In addition, data is worthless if it is not gathered in a reliable, valid manner and managed effectively, which often means building a management information database which allows program staff and evaluation staff to easily track important information in a well coordinated and efficient system.
There are probably as many different data collection strategies as there are new and innovative programs. Each program requires a customized data collection design to monitor the specific processes and outcomes that have been targeted. However, many programs will be well served by some combination of the following methods:
- Collection of demographic and other information about program participants
- Surveys
- Individual or group interviews
- Focus groups
- Expert review of documents and materials produced by a program
- Observation of program activities
- Structured measurement of targeted program outcomes
In addition to our highly trained staff who regularly use these methods in different contexts, the Evaluation Program maintains state of the art equipment for optical scanning of paper surveys and for development and administration of web-based surveys and web-integrated databases. We are well-versed in the design and implementation of both large and small scale surveys, including stratified, representative sampling of states, counties or districts which may involve many thousands of survey participants.