Education staff training development programme: writing an evaluation research proposal

Abstract

Among the many definitions, evaluation (which is being equated with evaluation research in this paper) may be defined as a set of procedures to appraise the merit of a programme or project by providing information about its goals, expectations, activities, outcomes, effects, impact, costs etc. It is often conducted for clients who want to know the progress or effectiveness of a project/programme. Its significance lies in the production of data or information which can be used for making decisions about the programme. Perhaps of significance at this stage, is to draw a distinction between evaluation research and social research or other types of social investigations or surveys. The main concern of evaluation research is to produce data about a programmes/ projects1 worth or merit i.e. its’ main concern is a systematic effort to achieve certain expectations and change behavior, attitudes and thought. In other words, evaluation research is concerned with providing data and information about the effectiveness, worth or merit of a programme/project.