Jump to main content.
Program Evaluation Glossary
"C"
- Case Study
- A method for learning about a complex instance, based on a
comprehensive understanding of that instance, obtained by
extensive description and analysis of the instance, taken
as a whole and in its context.
- Categorical Measure
- A measure that places data into a limited numbers of groups
or categories.
- Causal Analysis
- A method for analyzing the possible causal associations among
a set of variables.
- Causal Association
- A relationship between two variables in which a change in
one brings about a change in the other.
- Causal Model
- A model or portrayal of the theorized causal relationships
between concepts or variables.
- Causal Relationship
- The relationship of cause and effect. The cause is the act
or event that produces the effect. The cause is necessary
to produce the effect.
- Closed Question
- A question with more than one possible answer from which
one or more answers must be selected.
- Closed-Ended Questions
- A question that limits responses to predetermined categories.
- Cluster Sample
- A probability sample for which groups or geographic areas
comprising groups were randomly selected
- Clustering
- Identifying similar characteristics and grouping samples
with similar characteristics together.
- Codebook
- A document which lists the variables in a dataset, possible
values for each variable, and the definitions of codes that
have been assigned to these values.
- Coding
- The process of converting information obtained on a subject
or unit into coded values (typically numeric) for the purpose
of data storage, management, and analysis.
- Coefficient
- A value expressing the degree to which some characteristic or relation is to be found in specified instances.
- Collaborative Evaluation
- See participatory evaluation.
- Comparative Change Design
- The quasi-experimental design known as the comparative change
design allows for the measurement of change in relevant outcome
factors (using a pre- and post-test) and provides for comparison
of this change between a treatment group and a non-random
comparison group. Because comparison and treatment groups
are not randomly selected, alternate explanations due to prior
differences between groups continue to be a threat.
- Comparative Post-test Design
- The elementary quasi-experimental design known as the comparative
post-test design involves the measurement of outcomes for
both the test group as well as a comparison group. The selection
of participants into the treatment and comparison groups is
not done randomly. While such a design to some extent overcomes
the issues of a one-shot study by allowing comparisons of
success, this design is typically plagued by threats due to
selection bias. That is, an alternate explanation for differences
between group outcomes is that some alternate factor, which
was related to the selection process, has actually caused
the differences in outcomes.
- Comparative Time-Series Design
- The quasi-experimental design known as the comparative time
series tracks some outcome of interest for periods before
and after program implementation for both the treatment group
as well as a non-randomly selected comparison group. Because
comparison and treatment groups are not randomly selected,
alternate explanations due to prior differences between groups
continue to be a threat.
- Comparison Group
- A group of individuals whose characteristics are similar
to those of a program's participants. These individuals may
not receive any services, or they may receive a different
set of services, activities, or products; in no instance do
they receive the same services as those being evaluated. As
part of the evaluation process, the experimental group (those
receiving program services) and the comparison group are assessed
to determine which types of services, activities, or products
provided by the program produced the expected changes.
- Composite Measure
- A measure constructed using several alternate measures of
the same phenomenon.
- Comprehensive Evaluation
- An assessment of a social program that covers the need for the program, its design, implementation, impact, and efficiency.
- Concept
- An abstract or symbolic tag that attempts to capture the
essence of reality. The "concept" is later converted
into variables to be measured.
- Conditional Distribution
-
The distribution of one or more variables given that one or more other variables have specified values. For example, a distribution of height might be made conditional on gender and age, allowing you to find the distribution of height for men aged 18-22.
- Confidence Interval
- An estimate of a population parameter that consists of a
range of values bounded by statistics called upper and lower
confidence limits, within which the value of the parameter
is expected to be located.
- Confidence Level
- The level of certainty to which an estimate can be trusted.
The degree of certainty is expressed as the chance that a
true value will be included within a specified range, called
a confidence interval.
- Confidence Limits
- Two statistics that form the upper and lower bounds of a
confidence interval.
- Confidentiality
- Secrecy. In research this involves not revealing the identity
of research subjects, or factors which may lead to the identification
of individual research subjects.
- Confidentiality Form
- A written form that assures evaluation participants that
information they provide will not be openly disclosed nor
associated with them by name. Since an evaluation may entail
exchanging or gathering privileged or sensitive information
about residents or other individuals, a confidentiality form
ensures that the participants' privacy will be maintained.
- Confounding
- An inability to distinguish the separate impacts of two or
more individual variables on a single outcome.
- Consensus Building Outcome
- The production of a common understanding among participants
about issues and programs.
- Constraint
- A limitation of any kind to be considered in planning, programming,
scheduling, implementing, or evaluating programs.
- Construct
- A concept that describes and includes a number of characteristics
or attributes. The concepts are often unobservable ideas or
abstractions.
- Construct Validity
- The extent to which a measurement method accurately represents
a construct and produces an observation distinct from that
produced by a measure of another construct.
- Consultant
- An individual who provides expert or professional advice
or services, often in a paid capacity.
- Contamination
- The tainting of members of the comparison or control group
with elements from the program. Contamination threatens the
validity of the study because the group is no longer untreated
for purposes of comparison.
- Content Analysis
- A set of procedures for collecting and organizing nonstructured
information into a standardized format that allows one to
make inferences about the characteristics and meaning of written
and otherwise recorded material.
- Content Validity
- The ability of the items in a measuring instrument or test
to adequately measure or represent the content of the property
that the investigator wishes to measure.
- Context (of an evaluation)
- The combination of the factors accompanying the study that may have influenced its results. These factors include the geographic location of the study, its timing, the political and social climate in the region at that time, the other relevant professional activities that were in progress, and any existing pertinent economic conditions.
- Continuous Variable
- A quantitative variable with an infinite number of attributes.
- Contract
- A written or oral agreement between the evaluator and client that is enforceable by law. It is a mutual understanding of expectations and responsibilities for both parties.
- Control Group
- A group whose characteristics are similar to those of the
program but who do not receive the program services, products,
or activities being evaluated. Participants are randomly assigned
to either the experimental group (those receiving program
services) or the control group. A control group is used to
assess the effect of program activities on participants who
are receiving the services, products, or activities being
evaluated. The same information is collected for people in
the control group and those in the experimental group.
- Control Variable
- A variable that is held constant or whose impact is removed
in order to analyze the relationship between other variables
without interference, or within subgroups of the control variable.
- Convenience Sample
- A sample for which cases are selected only on the basis of
feasibility or ease of data collection. This type of sample
is rarely useful in evaluation and is usually hazardous.
- Correlation
- A synonym for association or the relationship between variables.
- Correlation coefficient
- A numerical value that identifies the strength of relationship
between variables.
- Cost-Benefit
- A criterion for comparing programs and alternatives when
benefits can be valued in dollars. Cost-benefit is the ratio
of dollar value of benefit divided by cost. It allows comparison
between programs and alternative methods.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- An analysis that compares present values of all benefits
less those of related costs when benefits can be valued in
dollars the same way as costs. A cost-benefit analysis is
performed in order to select the alternative that maximizes
the benefits of a program.
- Cost-Effectiveness
- A criterion for comparing alternatives when benefits or outputs
cannot be valued in dollars. This relates costs of programs
to performance by measuring outcomes in nonmonetary form.
It is useful in comparing methods of attaining an explicit
objective on the basis of least cost or greatest effectiveness
for a given level of cost.
- Costs
- Inputs, both direct and indirect, required to produce an intervention.
- Covariation
- The degree to which two measures vary together.
- Coverage
- The extent to which a program reaches its intended target population.
- Cross-Sectional Data
- Observations collected on subjects or events at a single
point in time.
- Cues
- The alternative responses to questions that increase or decrease
in intensity in an ordered fashion. The interviewee is asked
to select one answer to the question.
- Cultural Competency
- A set of academic and interpersonal skills that allow individuals to increase their understanding and appreciation of cultural differences and similarities within, among, and between groups.
Jump to main content.
![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}