Evaluating Veterans Treatment Courts in Michigan Project Proposal

Evaluation Project Proposal

Evaluating Veterans Treatment Courts in Michigan

Format: APA

Guidelines:

• There are 4 stages of the evaluation Project Proposal, the attachment shows you a ROUGH DRAFT of the 1^st and 2^nd stage of the project proposal.
• In looking at the ROUGH DRAFT as a starting point, you will specify the research questions, operational definitions, and specific measures to be used to evaluate the Veteran Treatment Courts in Michigan.
• This stage of the EPP will address the following questions: What are the key questions/hypothesis that will organize the inquiry? What are the key methods that will be used to collect verifiable data on the program? How will you define and measure short-and long-term outcomes and impact?

The Design and Method part of the EPP will consist of:

1. Research Design: The specific research design will depend on the type of evaluation that is being proposed (needs, process, outcome, impact, cost/benefit). Convince the reader that your strategy is appropriate. Will you collect data over time (a longitudinal/time-series study) or at one time point? Will you compare multiple groups/sites? How will a control/comparison group and the program participants be identified? Will the evaluation use experimental or quasi-experimental designs? What are your hypotheses?
2. Data Collection Method: What method of data collection is best? Why do you think these procedures are bestsuited for the program? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these methods? What kind of problems/concerns have to be considered and how should they be handled? Is there also a need for qualitative or quantitative assessment of implementation, and if so, by what methods —focus group, interviews, surveys? Create and include any instruments you would use to measure implementation or outputs.
3. Data: Identify the target population and who to include in the study, If sampling is to be used clearly relate how the procedure will be conducted. If sampling is not proposed where are the data located, and how will it be obtained? Why is your method of data collection the most appropriate for the program and the proposed evaluation design? What steps are involved and what are the potential problems? Who will help with data collection?
4. Variables and Measures, Reliability and Validity: How are your variables measured (level of measurement)? What are and how do you define your criteria for outcomes (are there proximate and distal outcomes)? What is your definition of program success/failure? Discuss the reliability and validity of your measures.Include a table in your paper that summarizes your variables and measures.
5. Analysis: Explain in general terms how the data you propose to collect will be analyzed. You do not need to be detailed but should be able to explain your choices.
6. Timeline: What is the general stages and timeline for completing the evaluation for the program? Assume a 1-calendar year turn-around from initiation of the evaluation to submission of the final report: How many weeks/months will each step take?
7. Budget and Funding: How will the program evaluation be funded? What are the key elements in the budget of expenditures to undertake the evaluation? Who are the collaborating stakeholders in the evaluation? What are the roles and how can they be expected to contribute to the cost of undertaking the evaluation? Specify the resources necessary to actually do the evaluation. Materials: What do you need in terms of equipment and supplies? Personnel: What do you expect the personnel cost to be? Computer: How much computer support do you need? Do you need assistance from other sources? Overhead/Other: Are any other resources needed?
8. Reports and Utilization Plan: What reports would the evaluation produce and how would they be disseminated? How do you expect to facilitate the use of the results of the evaluation? What is the extent or need to generalize the results to other settings? How have you designed the evaluation to assure this is feasible? Given the nature of the program, how feasible is change and what form is it likely to take?
9. Bibliography: List sources used in obtaining information regarding Veteran Treatment Courts in Michigan.