Cost-Inclusive Evaluation

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Evaluating the costs of a program can be the missing link between a superficial evaluation and one that will get changes made and funding delivered. In accessible language and without complex formulas, this book provides a roadmap for measuring program costs and outcomes and analyzing cost-effectiveness, cost–benefit, and cost–utility. Also explained are simplified ways to use economic appraisal methodologies, such as net present valuation, internal rate of return computation, and payback period determination. Examples span human services, education, and health care contexts. Other evaluator- and student-friendly features include helpful graphics, procedure steps, and discussion questions

Is a given treatment, intervention, or program worth it? How can a program do more or better with less? Evaluating the costs of a program can be the missing link between a superficial evaluation and one that will get changes made and funding delivered. In accessible language and without complex formulas, this book provides a roadmap for measuring program costs and outcomes and analyzing cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, and cost-utility. Also explained are simplified ways to use economic appraisal methodologies--such as net present valuation, internal rate of return computation, and payback period determination--in a cost-inclusive evaluation. Instructive examples span a range of human services, education, and health care contexts. Other evaluator- and student-friendly features include helpful graphics, procedure steps, end-of-chapter discussion questions, a list of acronyms, and a glossary of key terms.

Obsah

Foreword, Michael Scriven
I. The Why, the Types, and the Tools of Cost-Inclusive Evaluation
1. Cost-Inclusive Evaluation
2. Types of Costs and Outcomes That Need to Be Considered in Cost-Inclusive Evaluations
3. Tools for Identifying and Measuring Costs and Outcomes and Other Issues for Consideration
II. Adapting Economic Methods to Enhance Cost-Inclusive Evaluation
4. Economic Appraisal Methodologies
5. Considerations When Using Economic Appraisal Methods
III. Adapting Concepts and Tools from Accounting to Improve Cost-Inclusive Evaluation
6. Financial Accounting Concepts and Tools
7. Cost and Management Accounting Concepts and Tools
IV. Cost-Inclusive Evaluation for the Scientist−Manager−Practitioner
8. Breaking Down Cost by Activity for Better Cost-Inclusive Evaluations
9. Completing the Model with Activity -> Process and Process -> Outcome Analyses
List of Acronyms
Glossary
References
Author Index
Subject Index
About the Authors