Jump to main content.
Program Evaluation Glossary
"P"
- Panel Data
- A special form of longitudinal data in which observations
are collected on the same sample of respondents over a period
of time.
- Panel Interviewing
- Conducting repeated interviews with the same group of respondents
over time.
- Parameter
- A number that describes a population.
- Participant Observation
- A research method involving direct participation of the researcher
in the events being studied. The researcher may either reveal
or hide the true reason for involvement.
- Participatory Evaluation
- An evaluation organized as a team project in which the evaluator and representatives of one or more stakeholder groups work collaboratively in developing the evaluation plan, conducting the evaluation, or disseminating and using the results.
- Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient
- A measure of association; a statistic used with interval-ratio
variables.
- Peer Review
- An assessment of a product conducted by a person or persons
of similar expertise to the author.
- Performance Evaluation
- An evaluation that compares actual performance with
that planned in terms of both resource utilization and production.
It is used by management to redirect program efforts and resources
and to redesign the program structure.
- Performance Measure
- Ways to objectively measure the degree of success a program
has had in achieving its stated objectives, goals, and planned
program activities.
- Performance Measurement
- The ongoing monitoring and reporting of program accomplishments, particularly progress toward pre-established goals. It is typically conducted by program or agency management.
Performance measures may address the type or level of program activities conducted (process), the direct products and services delivered by a program (outputs), or the results of those products and services (outcomes).
- Pilot
- A pretest or trial run of a program, evaluation instrument,
or sampling procedure for the purpose of correcting any problems
before it is implemented or used on a larger scale.
- Pilot Test
- Preliminary test or study of the program or evaluation activities
to try out procedures and make any needed changes or adjustments.
- Planning
- The process of anticipating future occurrences and
problems, exploring their probable impact, and detailing policies,
goals, objectives, and strategies to solve the problems. This
often includes preparing options documents, considering alternatives,
and issuing final plans.
- Point Biserial Coefficient
- A measure of association between an interval-ratio variable
and a nominal variable with two attributes.
- Point Estimate
- An estimate of a population parameter that is a single numerical
value.
- Policy Analysis
- An analysis used to help managers understand the extent
of the problem or need that exists and to set realistic goals
and objectives in response to such problem or need. It may
be used to compare actual program activities with the program's
legally established purposes in order to ensure legal compliance.
- Population
- The total number of individuals or objects being analyzed
or evaluated.
- Posttest
- A test or measurement taken after services or activities
have ended. It is compared with the results of a pretest to
show evidence of the effects or changes resulting from the
services or activities being evaluated.
- Precision
- The exactness of a question's wording or the amount of random
error in an estimate.
- Pretest
- A test or measurement taken before services or activities
begin. It is compared with the results of a posttest to show
evidence of the effects of the services or activities being
evaluated. A pretest can be used to obtain baseline data.
- Primary Data
- Data collected by the researcher specifically for the research
project.
- Probability Distribution
- A distribution of a variable that expresses the probability
that particular attributes or ranges of attributes will be,
or have been observed.
- Probability Sample
- A group of cases selected from a population by a random process.
Every member of the population has a known, nonzero probability
of being selected.
- Probability Sampling
- A method for drawing a sample from a population such that
all possible samples have a known and specified probability
of being drawn.
- Probe
- To examine a subject in an interview in depth, using several
questions.
- Process
- The programmed, sequenced set of things actually done
to carry out a program mission.
- Process Evaluation
-
This form of evaluation assesses the extent to which a program is operating as it was intended. It typically assesses program activities’ conformance to statutory and regulatory requirements, program design, and professional standards or customer expectations. Also known as an implementation evaluation.
- Productivity
- The relationship between production of an output and
one, some, or all of the resource inputs used in accomplishing
the assigned task. It is measured as a ratio of output per
unit of input over time. It is a measure of efficiency and
is usually considered as output per person-hour.
- Program
-
Any activity, project, function, or policy that has an identifiable purpose or set of objectives.
- Program Activities
- Activities, services, or functions carried out by the program
(i.e., what the program does).
- Program Analysis
- The analysis of options in relation to goals and objectives,
strategies, procedures, and resources by comparing alternatives
for proposed and ongoing programs. It embraces the processes
involved in program planning and program evaluation.
- Program Evaluation
- Individual systematic studies conducted periodically or on an ad hoc basis to assess how well a program is working. They are often conducted by experts external to the program, either inside or outside the agency, as well as by program managers.
- Program Effectiveness Evaluation
- The application of scientific research methods to estimate
how much observed results, intended or not, are caused by
program activities. Effect is linked to cause by design and
analyses that compare observed results with estimates of what
might have been observed in the absence of the program.
- Program Failure
- A program shortcoming in which the outcome criteria
are not affected by participation of the subjects in the program
(i.e., the program does not accomplish its objective).
- Program Implementation Objective
- What is planned to be done in the program, components,
or services.
- Program Justification
- The narrative and related analyses and statistical
presentations supporting a program budget request. It includes:
(1) definitions of program objectives, including a rationale
for how the proposed program is expected to help solve the
problem and the magnitude of the need, (2) plans for achieving
the objectives , and (3) the derivation of the requested appropriation
in terms of outputs or workloads showing productivity trends
and the distribution of funds among organizational units.
- Program Model
- A flowchart or model which identifies the objectives and
goals of a program, as well as their relationship to program
activities intended to achieve these outcomes.
- Program Theory
- The set of assumptions about the manner in which the program relates to the social benefits it is expected to produce and the strategy and tactics the program has adopted to achieve its goals and objectives.
Within program theory we can distinguish impact theory, relating to the nature of the change in social conditions brought about by program action, and process theory, which depicts the program's organizational plan and service utilization plan.
- Purposive Sample
- Instances appropriately selected to answer different evaluation
questions, on various systematic bases, such as best or worst
practices; a judgmental sample. If conducted systematically,
can be widely useful in evaluation.
Jump to main content.
![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}