Week 9 – Discussion – Evaluation research

Discuss the importance of evaluation research to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency.

This document contains several versions of the answer to the above question. A total of 21 answers are provided.

Each answer has its own unique perspective.

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Answer 1

Evaluation research is unlike other research that we have read or talked about this semester. It is not a unique component of research or a method of data collection; it is a social research that is conducted for a distinctive purpose of investigating whether social programs are have their intended outcome (Bachman & Schutt, 2020, p. 644). Evaluation research allows us to see if these programs are doing what they intend to do; we can evaluate the costs of these programs and make the decision if the resulting benefits are worth the costs. These are all questions that the public and the government want to know and understand to justifying the initial funding or continued funding of these social programs.

As slides 4 and 5 of Beaver (2021) presentation points out; as well as Bachman & Schutt (2020) p. 646-647, evaluation research has a systems model approach to answer the effectiveness questions. The basics of evaluation research start with what are called inputs, which include resources, staff, clients, and customers. The input includes everything that goes into that social program; for crime and delinquency that includes the delinquent person or offender, the program personnel and managers, the facilities, and the resources like funding. Next you have the program process which lays out the program and services that will be provided. Then you have the output or what the programs actually deliver. The outcomes tell us the impact that the program is having. Through these outputs and outcomes we are able produce feedback to stakeholders to either show whether these programs should continue, be changed, or to be canceled all together.

Evaluation research is extremely important for programs and policies in regards to crime and delinquency because it gives us answers to the questions like if there is an actual need for a certain program, is the program operating the way it is intended and designed, what impacts we are seeing from the program, and is it efficient and worth the cost. All these questions really boil down to the assessment of whether we are getting the intended results and is it worth it to continue this program and do we need to change directions and focus our time and resources elsewhere. The public and the government are willing to fund programs if they are producing the intended outcome but if they aren’t or the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze then funding and support is going to go away fast. So it is important for criminologists and researchers to make sure that the programs being designed and implemented are meeting the marks set out for them and are producing their intended results. The only way to know for certain whether a program/law is effective is by employing an appropriate methodology and statistic (Beaver, 2021).

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R. K. (2020). The practice of research in criminology and criminal justice. Sage. Chapter 12.

Beaver, K. M. (2021) Week 9 Notes & Presentation. Florida State University.

Answer 2

One of the main goals of criminologists is to figure out different ways to control criminals and prevent crime. By implication this often entails evaluating the effectiveness of certain laws or programs (Beaver, 2021). Evaluation research is social research that is conducted for a distinctive purpose: to investigate social programs such as substance abuse treatment programs, welfare programs, criminal justice programs, or employment and training programs (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). It is not a method of data collection, and it also is not a component of research designs but can address accountability. Evaluation research allows us to see if what we want a program to accomplish is being accomplished (Beaver PowerPoint, 2021). It is important to note the systems model associated with evaluation research. First, customers, students, clients, or some other persons or units enter the program as inputs. Next, some service or treatment is provided to the cases. The complete treatment or service delivered by a program is termed program process (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). The direct product of the program’s service delivery process is called output and program outcomes indicate the impact of the program on the cases that have been processed. Variation in both outputs and outcomes, in turn, influences the inputs to the program through a feedback process. Feedback is defined as information about the service delivery system outputs, outcomes, or operations that is available to any program inputs (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). The evaluation process can only be understood in relation to the program stakeholders. Stakeholders are individuals and groups who have basis of concern with a program (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

The evaluation research focuses on answering important questions about a program. For example, is the program needed? Is it operating efficiently? What is the program’s impact? The answers to these questions can help determine the summative judgement of overall merit, worth, or value of a program (Beaver PowerPoint, 2021). The answers can also indicate areas that might need to be improved upon in order to ensure better results. When dealing with an evaluation of a program’s needs, a need assessment might be in order. A needs assessment is a type of evaluation research that attempts to determine the needs of some population that might be met with a social program (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). When assessing need, it is also crucial that you examine your target population. Another type of assessment is an evaluability assessment. Evaluability assessments determine whether the program can be evaluated within the available time and resources (Beaver PowerPoint, 2021). Evaluation assessments can help to better understand programs goals. A process evaluation, also called program monitoring or implementation assessment, is evaluation research that investigates the process of service delivery (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). This type of evaluation normally collects both quantitative and qualitative data. Impact evaluation or impact analysis is analysis of the extent to which a treatment or other service has the intended effect. Most evaluations of criminal justice related programs focus on the outcomes because it is inappropriate for, or beyond capability of, a single evaluation to assess the impact on larger communities (Beaver PowerPoint, 2021). Finally, efficiency evaluations are a type of evaluation research that compares program costs to program effects. It can be either a cost-benefit analysis or a cost-effectiveness analysis (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

The field of evaluation research has become an increasingly popular and active research specialty within the fields of criminology and criminal justice. Many social scientists find special appeal in evaluation research because of its utility (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). An example of evaluation research being applied to criminologists in real life is discussed in our textbook. One of the few true experiments to examine the efficacy of problem-oriented policing was conducted by Anthony Braga and his colleagues in 1999 and remains a model evaluation study problem-oriented policing in decreasing the incidence of violent street crimes in Jersey City (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). The results of this study found that the total number of criminal incidents and citizen calls for service were reduced at the experimental places in contrast to the control places. After further reviewing the study and its results, Braga and his colleagues concluded that law enforcement agencies interested in controlling violence should consider implementing problem-oriented policing programs that focus on the places where violence clusters by developing tailored interventions addressing the underlying conditions and dynamics that give rise to violent crimes (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). If Braga and his colleagues had not evaluated the study after they concluded their results, they would not have strategized more effective measures for policing and crime intervention tactics. Evaluation research is effective because it gives researchers an opportunity to evaluate programs in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, cost, impact, and process.

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R. K. (2020). The practice of research in criminology and criminal justice. Sage. Chapter 12.

Beaver, K. M. (2021) Week 9 Notes & Presentation. Florida State University.

Answer 3

When you hear of a new program launching that promises to deter individuals away from a specific behavior such as repeated substance abuse, your first question is, “does it work”? This is where research evaluation comes into hand. According to Bachman and Schutt (2020), evaluation research is not a data collection method or research design. Evaluation research is social research that has one purpose: to examine the social programs that are being claimed to be successful (p. 644). In specific relation to programs that deal with crime and delinquency, it is essential that a program can provide evidence to be efficient and verify that practitioners can utilize the program (Bachman & Schutt, 2020, p.645). If practitioners cannot effectively use a program, it will not successfully create the change that the program is claiming to do. Evaluation research is also important in the criminal justice realm because it addresses accountability regarding where the funding is being used and if it is being used appropriately. Since most of the programs that deal with criminal justice are publicly funded, the funding can be pulled if the stakeholders do not believe the program funding is being used correctly. (Beaver, 2021)

Five types of evaluations can ensure that a program will work for the population in mind. First, needs assessments are conducted to determine if there is a need for the specific program and if there is a need if the particular program in mind is going to be suitable for the target population (Beaver,2021). The definition of “need” must be defined to state that a program is needed accurately. The following evaluation is evaluability assessment. The evaluability assessment aims to establish whether the program can be evaluated within available time and resources (Beaver, 2021). For example, is the timeline for the program of interest to be implemented and receive results on track with what the funding agency wants, and are the resources available. If not, the time and effort put into the program will be pointless. Process evaluation is an additional evaluation that can be done to determine if the program is doing what it says it will do (Beaver, 2021). This evaluation step is important because it can catch any implementation problems that occur with a study that can affect the program’s efficiency. Impact/outcome evaluations determine the outcomes and impacts that the program has on the clients and the community. The outcomes focus on the program effects of the client, whereas the impact focuses on the program’s impact on the larger community. Programs that focus on criminal justice topics are interested in outcomes because it is unsuitable for one evaluation to evaluate the impact on a larger community (Beaver, 2021). The final evaluation is an efficiency study. The efficiency study focuses on the financial aspect of programs to ensure that the program’s cost is worthwhile, which is the primary reason funders require evaluations of programs (Bachman & Schutt, 2020, p.657). It is important to measure the cost-to-benefit ratio and ensure that the program’s benefit matches the cost, or else the program may not be worth the time to implement.

Overall, evaluation research to public policies related to crime and delinquency is an important way to certify that programs that claim to be used to reduce crime and its impacts are actually being done in that way. Additionally, evaluation research ensures that the correct programs are being used, and the funds are being used correctly.

References

Beaver, K.M. (2021). CCJ 5705: Week 9 Presentation. Florida State University.

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R.K. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice (7th Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Answer 4

Evaluation research started to become widely embraced in the 1960s, as President Johnson signed into law legislation that became known at the Great Society. The United States was spending astronomical amounts of money during the Great Society period on alleviating poverty and trying to solve issues like delinquency and crime (Bachmann & Schutt, 2020). More people were starting to wonder if all of these programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and environmental regulations were obtaining their original intended effects and they were also curious if the benefits were outweighing the costs of all these programs (Bachmann & Schutt, 2020). The premise of evaluation research is that it’s not a method of data collection, and it isn’t a component of research designs (Bachmann & Schutt, 2020), instead, it is mostly used as a way to investigate programs like drug and substance abuse treatment programs, domestic violence education programs, and job training programs (Bachmann & Schutt, 2020). When researchers start an evaluation research process, it seems to be kickstarted by people with certain political beliefs, and they want to know things like if it’s needed, how it operates, if it has an impact on its target audience, and if a program is efficient (Bachmann & Schutt, 2020). It is extremely important that whenever a group of people does start to evaluate a social program, that they are evaluated systematically and fairly, and there can’t be any personal biases in favor or against the program (Beaver, 2021).

Evaluation research also tries to do a cost-benefit analysis where it compares the cost of a program to any economic value that might come in the future from rehabilitated individuals, and a cost-effectiveness analysis where which tries to determine if the outcomes of any program are worth the amount of money that have been put into them so far (Bachmann & Schutt, 2020). I think that evaluation research came up with a great conclusion when they did a cost-benefit analysis on therapeutic communities. Instead of being behind bars for a drug offense, inmates live in a strictly structured living experience that prepared them for what life would be like once they got released from prison (Bachmann & Schutt, 2020). After doing a cost-benefit analysis in their research, they found that the cost of treatment in a therapeutic community was $20,361 per inmate, and then the maximum economic benefit in the future would have been $253,337 after all cost of living expenses were factored in (Bachmann & Schutt, 2020). There are many problems with evaluation research which has caused an outcry from participants in the past like their confidentiality not always being protected, a research design is biased against certain individuals due to the political motives of the people that are funding the project, and the evaluation results might only be shared with a certain group of people and not the general public (Beaver, 2021).

In general, I think that there are many aspects of evaluation research that do greatly assist programs that are trying to determine crime rates in cities and towns, and what kind of support programs have been the most effective. Needs assessments are also a great tool to discover what the strengths and weaknesses are in certain communities. It was interesting to read that a town in the midwest did launch an anti-crime and anti-delinquency education program in their town once crime rates started to rise in the 1990s, but the community organizers realized there was hardly any juvenile crime in the town, and then the whole program was scrapped which wasted so many people’s time, money, and energy (Bachmann & Schutt, 2020). I think that many of the qualitative methods of data collection that were discussed in Process Evaluation like doing extensive interviews with a segment of the population that you would like to research, and going through old police department records should give most people a clear indication on what the issues for their constituents are, and what kind of programs need more funds allocated that have already proven to have been effective.

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R. K. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Sage. Chapter 12.

Beaver, K. M. (2021) Week 9 Notes & Presentation. Florida State University.

Answer 5

One of the biggest goals in criminology is to work on ways to stop and control criminals along with preventing crime, the way to do this is to create and implement programs that work towards these goals. Sometimes these methods include things such as public policies to help with prevention so that less individuals engage in crime and delinquency. To determine if these methods and programs are actually effective, there needs to be some type of research done to see if these programs are working the way they need, to do this you conduct some type of evaluation research (Beaver, 2021). Evaluation research itself is a way to investigate social problems by collecting information about the activities, characteristics, and outcomes of the programs to determine how effective it is and how to continue on with programs in the future (Beaver, 2021).

When discussing public policies that deal with crime and delinquency, it is extremely important to conduct evaluation research because these policies effect the public as a whole and it is key to make sure that they are actually working the way that they need to be and it not, to determine what could work instead. To figure out if social programs are working, evaluation research the most systematic and fair way to do so, regardless if criminologist like the outcome or not, evaluations address accountability (Beaver, 2021). When we have these public policies in place it is important to realize that some of them have the potential to be costly and harmful to society if the effectiveness is not checked. It is ethical to conduct evaluation research than to just leave programs as they are once they have been put in place (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Reducing crime and delinquency is the goal and evaluation research makes sure that this goal is being met in the most productive and effective ways.

References

Bachman, R. & Schutt, R. (2020) The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice. SAGE.

Beaver, K. (2021) Week 9 Notes and Presentation. Florida State University.

Answer 6

As criminologists conduct research and form theories on crime and criminals, law enforcement agencies and policymakers will then implement a program or law based on that research. This is the main goal of criminologists, to figure ways to control criminals and prevent crime (Beaver, 2021). It cannot be based on opinion but rather the researcher must conduct evaluation research, that is done systematically and fairly. Unlike most methods, evaluation research is not a method of data collection, instead, it is social research that is used to investigate social programs like drug abuse treatments programs, welfare programs, and criminal justice programs such as D.A.R.E. (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). The main goal of evaluation research is to determine if a program is accomplishing what it was intended to accomplish (Beaver, 2021). If a program is not reducing crime rates or recidivism rates then the program would not be working, this way researchers can change the program or create a new one to accomplish those things.

Evaluation research is very important especially when it comes to criminal justice. Policies or laws that are in place need to be evaluated thoroughly to determine whether they are benefiting the community and not a waste of money, time, and resources. There are many types of evaluation research including evaluation of need, evaluability assessment, process evaluation, evaluation of impact and outcomes, and the evaluation of efficiency. Evaluation of need answers questions such as is a new program needed or is an old program still needed (Beaver, 2021)? The evaluability assessment determines if it is possible to evaluate a program’s effects with the available time and resources given (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). This method can help refine or clarify the goals of a program, and it can also determine that an evaluation will not give any useful information until the program has some changes (Beaver, 2021). Process evaluation determines if a program is doing what it says it is supposed to do. The evaluation of impact and outcomes looks at the extent to which the program achieved its desired goals (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Lastly, the evaluation of efficiency looks at the cost-effectiveness of a program, meaning that the money going into the program is benefiting the community because the program is working efficiently. All of these are important when looking at policies and programs because they can ultimately determine if they are working the way they are supposed to while also being efficient and the funds are not going to waste.

Evaluation research can help researchers and policymakers as it provides evidence to support whether a program should be implemented or removed. Not only does it save time, resources, and money, but it will also help determine if the treatment is working for criminals or at preventing crime. These two things are goals for criminologists as they conduct research every day to create policies, programs, or laws that can reduce crime and rehabilitate criminals. With evaluation research they can then determine if those policies or programs are working based off their initial research and then can go from there to decide whether to keep, change, or remove a policy or program.

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R. K. (2020). The practice of research in criminology and criminal justice. Sage. Chapter 12.

Beaver, K. M. (2021) Week 9 Notes & Presentation. Florida State University.

Answer 7

valuation research is very important as it relates to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency in that, criminologists are always looking for ways to control criminals and prevent crimes (Beaver, 2021). How then, you may ask, can this be done? The answer simple, evaluation research. There are many programs that have policies in place that are utilized in preventing crime and delinquency, but to determine the effectiveness of these programs or policies, evaluation research is needed. The purpose of evaluation research is to investigate social programs (Bachman & Schutt). Q Is the program needed? Can the program be evaluated? How does the program operate? What is the program’s impact? How efficient is the program? These are all questions for evaluation research. “The specific methods used in an evaluation research project depend, in part, on which of these questions is being addressed” (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

Need assessment attempts to answer questions such as is the program needed. This is first done by attempting to determine the needs of some populations that might be met with a social program (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). It is not as easy as it sounds, but it is necessary. Next, the program must be evaluated. If the program can not be evaluated (Evaluability Assessment), then evaluation research is pointless. Evaluability assessment according to Beaver (2021), may help to clarify goals or refine program operations. Once a program has started the evaluator must Process evaluation (monitor program). This type of evaluation research is to investigate the process of delivery. “Process evaluations are extremely important, primarily because there is no way to reliably determine whether the intended outcomes have occurred without being certain the program is working according to plan” (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Impact Evaluation-Did the program meet the intended consequences? What was the outcome of the program? “Most evaluations of criminal justice programs focus on outcomes because it is inappropriate for, or beyond capability of, a single evaluation to assess the impact on larger community” (Beaver, PowerPoint, 2021). Lastly, Efficiency analysis. How efficient is the program? What are the program’s benefits? Are they sufficient to offset he program’s costs? What about the taxpayers getting their money worth? “These efficiency questions can be the primary reason that funders require evaluation of the programs they fund” (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Efficiency analysis is a necessary component of an evaluation research project as it compares program effects to cost. There is cost benefit analysis, that compares program costs to the economic value of program benefits, and cost-effectiveness analysis, compares program costs to actual program outcomes (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

There are so many factors to consider to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency, such as stakeholders, if the outcomes of these programs are simple or complex. What are the strength or weaknesses of these programs? All of these factors are important as it relates to evaluation research. Evaluation research has been increasing since the 1950s to assess the impacts of programs and policies (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

Answer 8

One of the main goals of criminologists is to determine different ways to control criminals and prevent crime. This often involves evaluating the effectiveness of certain laws or programs and conducting some type of evaluation research (Week 9 Notes). Professional evaluation researchers have come to realize that simply performing rigorous experiments to determine the effectiveness of a program is not enough; they must also be responsible for ensuring their results can be understood and utilized by the policy makers to make decisions about cutting or modifying existing programs. Evaluation research is a more systematic approach that uses credible analyses of program operations and outcomes to provide feedback (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

Most programs associated with the criminal justice system or that serve victims or offenders are publicly funded. Consequently, they are often held responsible for spending funds appropriately and providing services accordingly (Week 9 Presentation). In program evaluation, the research question is often decided by the program sponsors or the government agency that is responsible for reviewing the program. Most often, this authority also determines the outcomes to be investigated. Therefore, evaluation research is for the client’s benefit, and its results may directly influence the services, treatments, or even punishments that program users receive (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

There are drawbacks to both stakeholder and social science approaches to program evaluation. If stakeholders are excluded, researchers may find that participants are uncooperative, that their reports are unused, and that the next project will not receive funding. On the other hand, if social science procedures are neglected, standards of evidence will be compromised, conclusions about program effects will likely be invalid, and results are unlikely to be generalizable to other settings. Due to these undesirable possibilities, attempts have been made to create more integrated approaches to evaluation research to include the concerns of both stakeholders and evaluators (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

“Ultimately, evaluation research takes place in a political context, in which program stakeholders may be competing or collaborating to increase program funding or to emphasize particular program goals. It is a political process that creates social programs, and it is a political process that determines whether these programs are evaluated and what is done with the evaluation findings” (Weiss 1993, as cited in Bachman & Schutt, 2020, p. 363). Developing supportive relations with stakeholder groups will likely help to make sure that evaluation practice is not undercut by political processes. The field of evaluation has become a more popular and active research specialty within criminology and criminal justice. Many social scientists find evaluation research to be especially attractive and valuable (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice (7^th Edition) [eBook]. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Beaver, K. (n.d.). CCJ 5705: Week 9 Notes. Florida State University

Beaver, K. (n.d.). CCJ 5705: Week 9 Presentation. Florida State University

Answer 9

According to (Bachman & Schutt, 2020), Evaluation research is social research that is led for a particular purpose which is to investigate social programs. Social programs such as employment and training programs, substance abuse programs, welfare programs, and criminal justice programs (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). (Beaver 2021) asserts that evaluations of social programs must be evaluated systematically and fairly, regardless of whether or not we have favor of the social program. Within the evaluation process the researcher should choose a research design and method of collecting data that are appropriate for answering the research question and appropriate for the program that is being investigated (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

Evaluation research is important to public policy that deal with crime and delinquency. This type of social research can provide important data that has the potential to influence policies and programs that are created and implemented within the criminal justice and juvenile justice system (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). By conducting evaluation research, data can indicate whether or not public policies, programs or any method of intervention are reaching goals (such as reducing recidivism) or providing benefits (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). In other words, the information resulting from evaluation research can indicate positive outcomes or unintended (negative) outcomes of intervention methods in the participants (inputs) (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

Further, evaluation research is important to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency because it can provide evidence that a particular program or intervention method is effective, which can justify taxpayers dollars (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). This in-turn can show that taxpayers are “getting their money’s worth” (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Moreover, since intervention programs are quite costly, the data collected from evaluation research can assist policy makers in deciding which programs to allocate funds or continue to fund (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

References

Bachman, R.D., Schutt, R.K., (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Thousand Oaks, California. Sage. pp. 349-377

Beaver, K. (2021). Week 9 Power Point Presentation. Florida State University.

Answer 10

Evaluation Research seeks to determine the effects of a social program or other types of intervention (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). This form of research explores and seeks to explain cause and effect. “However, evaluation research differs from other forms of explanatory research because evaluation research considers the implementation and effects of social policies and programs. These issues may not be relevant in other types of explanatory research” (Bachman & Schutt,2020). The best way to think of evaluation research is to think in term of the launch of a new program like the program that use to air every Thursday night of A&E called “Scared Straight”. This program promises to deter youth from their life of crime, by giving them a glance of how it is to be sentenced to prison. Evaluation research yields to program accountability of programs that have been put in place to help.

Today, professional evaluation researchers have realized that it is not enough simply to perform rigorous experiments to determine program efficacy; they must also be responsible for making sure their results can be understood and utilized by the practitioners (e.g., government officials, corporations, and nonprofit agencies) to make decisions about scrapping or modifying existing programs (Bachman & Schutt,2020) . Also, this adds concern to the work in the field concerning accountability, documentations, and expenditures. Performing a basic evaluation requires that the evaluator takes a few steps, and the steps go as follows: the program needs (inputs) these are the patients that could range from student to adults. The input is what will be receiving the process. From the example above (Scared Straight) the input will be the children that were referred to the program by their parents. Next, the program will require a proper process the process does not have to be complicated but, it should be carefully designed in order to make an impact on the program’s inputs. The process of the (Scared Straight) program required parents’ permission, a non-official at home arrest cuffs included, fingerprints, a full day cell assignment, and a meet and greet with actual inmates who give horror stories concerning the likes of prison. From this we get an output, “inputs are consumed, and outputs are produced” (Bachman & Schutt,2020), in this case the output is the youth that successfully made it out the program. Lastly, we have the outcomes, the outcomes show if and how beneficial the program is and will be in the future. “There are likely to be multiple outcomes of any social program, some intended and some unintended, some positive and others that are viewed as negative”(Bachman & Schutts,2020) .After each evaluation research the program is open for feedback from both the in and out puts. This feedback can also serve as a referral to the program.

There are many problems with evaluation research which has caused an outcry from participants in the past like their confidentiality not always being protected, a research design is biased against certain individuals due to the political motives of the people that are funding the project, and the evaluation results might only be shared with a certain group of people and not the general public (Beaver, 2021). But I believe it is important to have the work that is evaluation research. Through this research programs like “scared straight” can be proven to make difference or removed so that funds used towards the program can go to something more useful. Through this public policy can be better informed and possibly changed. To figure out if social programs are working, evaluation research the most systematic and fair way to do so, regardless if criminologist like the outcome or not, evaluations address accountability (Beaver, 2021)

References

Bachman, R. & Schutt, R. (2020) The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice. SAGE.

Beaver, K. (2021) Week 9 Notes and Presentation. Florida State University.

Need help with the CCJ 5705 Class or Assignments? We are your #1 Tutoring Partner. Talk to us via our communication channels – Email, Social Media, or Order form. Here is that link to the order form – https://prolifictutors.com/place-order/

Answer 11

Evaluation research, according to Patton (1997:23), is the systematic collection of information about the activities, characteristics, and outcomes of programs to make judgments about the program, improve program effectiveness, and/or inform decisions about future programming (Beaver, 2021). One of the main goals of criminologists is to figure out different ways to control criminals and prevent crime. By implication this often entails evaluating the effectiveness of certain laws or programs (Beaver, 2021). Evaluation research is not a data collection method, but instead is social research that is conducted for a distinctive purpose: to investigate social problems (such as substance abuse treatment programs, welfare programs, criminal justice programs, or employment and training programs) (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Evaluation research can also be found in private sectors, including non-profits and private corporations. Evaluating the efficacy of a program or a special interest project allows the stakeholders to substantiate, or eliminate, according to the entities needs.

Evaluation research is not a research method it itself, however it combines multiple methods to assess and gather data. Social research techniques are employed to conceptualize, design, implement and examine the utilization of social intervention programs (Beaver, 2021). To determine if a program is accomplishing what is set out to be accomplished, evaluation research is used to evaluate the program systematically and fairly. Research methods such as surveys, experimental designs, quasi experimental designs and participant observation may be used to assess the program in question. The first step in evaluation research is entering the ‘cases’ also known as inputs. Inputs can be clients, staff, raw materials etc. Next, a service or treatment is applied to the cases, also known as process delivery. This may include substance abuse treatment, shorter workdays, or any service provided which is to be evaluated. The result of the process delivery is defined as the output. This may be the clients served, number of arrests made, or the result of the treatment administered to the inputs. Program outcomes are the impact of the program or treatment on the cases. This can range from a lower rate of substance abuse, higher employee productivity or lowered crime rates. There are likely to be multiple outcomes of any social program, some intended and some unintended (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). The process of evaluation research is not unlike a traditional experiment in terms of participants, a treatment, and an outcome, however it is much harder to control for all extraneous factors in social research.

Evaluation research can focus on several questions related to the operation of social programs. These include evaluation of need (Is the program needed?), evaluability assessment (Can the program be evaluated?), process evaluation (How does the program operate?), impact evaluation (What is the program’s impact?), and efficiency analysis (How efficient is the program?) (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Most programs affiliated with the criminal justice system or that serve victims or offenders are publicly funded. As such, they are often held accountable for spending funds appropriately and providing services for which funds are appropriated (Beaver, 2021). In Tampa, Florida the Agency for Community Treatment Services, Inc. (ACTS) purchased a 10,000 square foot building with the hope of providing psychosocial rehabilitation for those struggling with mental health disorders. This program will be funded through grants and city funds, and we could expect evaluation research to be conducted on the program in the future to assess its success and efficacy. The evaluation of need assessment was completed inadvertently when the demand for substance and mental health resources increased over the last one year. From a judgement-oriented position we can expect to see interests such as “How effective is the program at meeting needs of those intended to help?”, and “Does the program have desired outcomes?” Of course, these questions will directly impact stakeholders such as donors and program administrators, and as such the findings may be politically influenced.

Evaluation research can determine if a new program is needed or if an existing program is effective. It can identify and help resolve issues related to evaluability assessments and process evaluation. Evaluation research is important to implement programs and evaluate the impact or outcomes of said programs. Lastly, evaluation research is critical to evaluating efficiency and comparing program effects to costs.

References

Bachman, R. D., Schutt, R. K. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice. California. Sage Publications.

Beaver, K.M. (2021). CCJ 5705: Week 9 notes and presentation. Florida State University.

Answer 12

Evaluation research is of vital importance to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency. Specifically, the aspect of evaluation research that most strongly benefits the shaping of public policy is the ability to evaluate specific programs and apply findings to inform the policy. Specific program evaluation is necessary due to the nature of the field of criminal justice. Delinquents are sent to programs to rectify their behavior. An example of this is a substance user entering into a pre-trial release program to effectually treat their substance use disorder and avoid incarceration in the process. Correctional facilities are another example of the type of program-based response to control crime. Because most efforts to prevent crime or punish criminals are program-based, having a form of research that is able to measure program effectiveness and efficiency is important, especially considering such data can then be applied to inform policy decision-making. Another reason evaluation research is important for policies pertaining to crime and delinquency is that stakeholders include potential victims. The text emphasizes the role of stakeholders in both the designing of research questions in an evaluative study, as well as in the action planning based on study findings (Bachman & Schutt, 2020, Ch. 12, p. 351). While there are certainly stakeholders in the criminal justice sector who are stakeholders in research conducted to measure program effectiveness and efficiency, the primary beneficiaries of such programs should be those who have the potential to be victimized. Many citizens fill this role, in addition to the role of tax-payer contributing to the operational costs of correctional facilities and similar criminal justice programs. Though stakeholders should not compromise the ultimate control of the researcher to conduct responsible and meritable research, in the realm of crime and delinquency, they should have representation in the implementation of programs that claim to keep them safe from harm (Bachman & Schutt, 2020, Ch. 12, pp. 362-363).

The three important considerations to be made when designing evaluative studies for social science fields such as crime and delinquency are how the program will get results, whether stakeholder or researcher goals matter most, and the complexity of the findings. For crime and delinquency, there is great merit to implementing program theory to reveal as much about causalities as possible. If criminologists were to use the simple black box approach, wherein the process of the program is ignored and results, or outputs, are analyzed independent of the process, they would ignore vital information that could be used to inspire further research or inform as to why certain outputs were present. For evaluation research dealing with crime and delinquency, it would be best to engage in theory-driven evaluation focusing on descriptive theories that suggest causal mechanisms. Having theory-driven findings will help researchers better inform policy-makers. As discussed in the above paragraph, an integrative approach that considers both researcher and stakeholder desires and interests would be best for evaluation studies of crime and delinquency. This would ensure both parties have a say in the information that will be used in policy development. It is important to make stakeholders feel heard, especially when they are the ones who will be impacted by policies put in place. Finally, complex outcome measurement is recommended for most evaluation research with studies in crime and delinquency being no exception. Using multiple outcomes to measure program impact is recommended, as the text reports that doing so will result in “a much more realistic, and richer, understanding of program impact,” (Bachman & Schutt, 2020, Ch. 12, p. 364). A heightened understanding of program impacts can help make necessary changes in existing programs and guide the creation of future ones that attempt to control criminal behavior.

References

Bachman, R. D., & Schutt, R. K. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Answer 13

Evaluation research is very important to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency for several reasons. The overarching reason is to determine the effectiveness of a program or policy, and results of evaluations research tend to impact policy choices (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Programs with favorable outcomes may receive increased funding to expand and reach more people in need. Programs may also have unintended consequences, and therefore be modified or terminated (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Research is the only way to know for sure if a program or policy is effective (Beaver, 2021a) since good research attempts to remove bias.

There is often a lot of taxpayer money going toward social programs, so accountability (if programs do that which they are intended to, if benefits outweigh costs) to the public is important (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). If a program addresses a problem that is not prevalent in the community, then it is likely not needed (Bachman & Schutt, 2020), and those funds can be used to address a more prevalent issue. Researchers can evaluate if the program can be evaluated with the time and resources available, and help to make program goals clear or improve operations (Beaver, 2021b). Evaluation research can also show if a program has been effectively implemented, if it is reaching its targets, if it is operating as planned, and the costs associated with the program (Bachman & Schutt, 2020).

Policy researchers often use evaluation research to inform policymakers of alternative solutions to problems, strengths and weaknesses of the solutions, and likely effects of the solutions (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Logic tells us that policies backed by empirical evidence are more likely to see successful results. Ultimately, choosing the correct policies and associated programs can lead to less crime and delinquency.

References

Bachman, R. D. & Schutt, R. K. (2020). The practice of research in criminology and criminal justice (7^thed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.

Beaver, K. M. (2021a, October 15). Week 9 notes: Evaluation research. [Lecture notes]. Accessed via FSU Canvas.

Beaver, K. M. (2021b, October 15). Week 9 presentation: Chapter 11: Evaluation research. [Lecture notes]. Accessed via FSU Canvas.

Answer 14

Evaluation research collects information on social programs in order to determine if the program is effective in a systematic evaluation (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). One important use for evaluation research is to ensure the accountability of the programs. Because most programs are publicly funded, the money should be sent appropriately (Beaver, 2021). The evaluation research can determine if the funds are being used correctly. An efficiency analysis is a type of evaluation research that can be used to compare the cost of the program to the program effects (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). The economic value of the program can be determined through these evaluation research analysis. This is important because public policies should be effective in dealing with crime and delinquency or else the funds should be spent elsewhere. Evaluation research allows the policymakers to find out what policies and programs are most successful.

Additionally, policy research is a process which brings about information that can be used by policymakers to make recommendations that are based on evidence (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). An evidence-based policy is a policy that has been evaluated and that has been proven to be effective (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). It is crucial that public policies that are related to crime and delinquency are effective. Crime and delinquency must be prevented to minimize harm and reduce recidivism for the sake of victims and offenders living better lives. Evaluation research allows for these policies to be based on empirical evidence so the policies can have a meaningful impact.

For example, a public policy may be created to educate inmates in order to reduce recidivism. While this policy may sound good, does it actually lower crime rates? Evaluation research can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the program, as well as test if the program results in the desired outcome (Beaver, 2021). If the program does not lower crime rates, then a different policy should be enacted or the program should be modified to achieve desirable results.

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R.K. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice (7th Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sag

Beaver, Keven. (2021). Week Nine Presentation. FSU.

Answer 15

One of the primary goals of law enforcement in the United States is crime prevention. Successful policies and procedures dealing with crime prevention obviously leads to a safer community; however, implementation of policies and procedures comes at a cost. Resources (manpower) has to be devoted to the policy. Funding has to be allocated to for the resources. Additional funding may be needed for outside resources, such as the court system and probation/parole. Evaluation research is important because it holds the organization accountable for the methods used. Evaluation measures the need, efficiency, impact, outcome, cost benefit, and cost analysis of the program. It is important to note that the evaluation of the research needs to be completed systematically and fairly, regardless of whether the program is liked or not (Beaver, 2021).

A good example of a theory used to prevent crime was the implementation of the Broken Window’s Theory in New York City in the 1990’s. In short, the broken windows theory suggests that neighborhood disorder, such as vandalism and broken windows, if left unfixed, created an environment that welcomed criminal activity. Mayor Giuliani from New York City was an advocate of this theory and implemented several strategies which he believed would lower the crime rate in New York City. First of all, Mayor Giuliani cracked down on transit fare evaders and created faster methods to process those arrested (Ruhl, 2021). Next, he began attempting to clean up the subways and neighborhoods by repairing damaged building and covering up graffiti. Additionally, Mayor Giuliani rapidly increased misdemeanor arrests for marijuana, vandalism, illegally selling cigarettes, and other street level offenses (Ruhl, 2021). Mayor Giuliani added hundreds of officers to patrol on foot, and implemented a very proactive form of policing that would target crime-ridden neighborhoods for any and all offenses with a zero-tolerance policy in place. Although the misdemeanor arrests skyrocketed, the crime rate in New York City (to include homicides) saw a dramatic decrease. Though this program was seen as successful, it came at a cost. By adding the hundreds of police officers, the budget for the police department increased exponentially. The court system was overwhelmed and the amount of people on probation also greatly increased. Here lies the question, “was it worth it?”

The evaluation of public policy (Mayor Giuliani’s implementation of Broken Windows Theory) is important because it can provide accountability for the program and the expenditure of the funds. Evaluation research can also provide impact outcome, cost benefit analysis, and cost effectiveness for the stakeholders of the policy. Though Mayor Giuliani created the program, the stakeholders were ultimately the citizens of New York City as they were the individuals who has the main basis of concern with the program (Bachman & Schutt, 2011, p. 345). The citizens of New York City would ultimately be the ones to judge whether the increase in funding and arrests were worth the implementation of the policy. If the citizens did not like the policy and did not think it was effective, Mayor Giuliani would not have been re-elected in his next term (which he was).

Focusing on the outcome of the program is also important in the evaluation of the program. The outcome is defined by Bachman & Schutt (2011) as “the impact of the program process on the cases processed” (p. 344). Program outcome is widely used in the criminal justice field because it is often impossible for a single evaluation to assess the impact of the process on a larger community (Beaver, 2021). The outcome of the implementation of the Broken Window’s Theory was able to be measured for the population of New York City; however, this does not mean this theory would have been as successful in other parts of the country.

There are five methods used in evaluation research, all of which are based off simple questions: is the program needed? Can the program be evaluated? How does the program operate? What is the program’s impact? How efficient is the program? The goal of a needs assessment is to answer whether an existing program is still required or if a new one is needed (Bachman & Schutt, 2011, p. 347). Motivation for social programs, such as the Broken Windows Theory project in New York City comes from many sources, to include advocacy groups, moral leaders, community advocates, and political figures (Bachman & Schutt, 2011, p. 347). Though the motivation for the program may be there, the researcher must ascertain reliable information on the nature and scope of the population in need of the program. Key questions to have a clear answer to include “how many people in the community need the program?”, “What are the demographic characteristics of the included population?”, and “is the anticipated program appropriate for the population?” Without a clear understanding of these basic questions, the new program being implemented could have no effect on the desired outcome and would result in a loss of time, money, and resources.

An evaluability assessment is often conducted before the proposed program or intervention is implemented. In some cases, evaluation research cannot be conducted because the program itself cannot be evaluated. This can occur if management only wanted measure the success stories from the program, with no regard for the amount of failures as a result of the program. Another barrier for an accurate evaluation occurs when the staff responsible for implementing the program are just going through the motions without having a true understanding of what the goal of the project is. Without a clear understanding of the process driving the change, there will not be true results. Lastly, if there are other programs which are similar in structure with the same end goal, there would be no way to differentiate one program from the other (Bachman & Schutt, 2011, p. 348).

Process evaluation, also known as program monitoring, occurs while the program is taking place to measure what is happening, whether it is reaching the target individuals, if it is operating as expected, and what resources are being expended (Bachman & Schutt, 2011, p. 348). As Bachman & Schutt (2011) states, “process evaluations are extremely important primarily because there is no way to reliably determine whether the intended outcomes have occurred without being certain the program is working according to a plan. Hypothetically, let’s assume a program was created to reduce the amount of heroin overdoses in a city. The program would have available counseling, drug testing, and job placement in an attempt to reduce the heroin dependency throughout the residents involved in the program. During this time, the rate of overdoes remained the same. Initially, it was appear as if this program was a failure. However, through a process evaluation, it was learned the counseling was only occurring twice a week when it was designed to be five days a week. In this scenario, the failure to decline the overdoses did not fall on the project as it was not being conducted as originally designed. Process evaluation ensures the program is being completed exactly how it was intended, which would provide a true evaluation of whether the process was successful or not.

Assuming the project is being carried out as designed, to the population of its intent, the next step is conducting an evaluation of impact or outcomes. This evaluation is designed to ascertain whether the program worked and had the intended impact on the community involved. An impact evaluation is defined by Bachman & Schutt (2011) as “analyses of the extent to which a treatment or other service has an effect” (p. 351). Referring back to the Broken Windows Theory, it appears as it was successful in New York City, but is this theory a true causal explanation for high crime rates? Turns out, crime was declining all throughout the country during this time. In some places, such as Los Angeles, there was no true policy or project put into place, yet crime rates and violent crime dropped dramatically. Causal explanations were offered for this reduction in crime to include the end of the “crack epidemic”, a growing economy, and more harsh sentencing guidelines (Vedantam, et al., 2016). Though the outcome was a decline in crime, the evaluation of the process of community oriented policing has mixed reviews. Some say the crime rate dropped simply because that was a trend among the entire country. Others say the decline in crime was because there was a sharp increase just before the implementation of the Broken Windows Theory Project, and when there is a sharp increase, there will always be a decrease to follow (Vedantam, et al., 2016). Upon a closer examination of the Broken Windows Theory project in New York City, the results have become inconclusive as to whether the project worked as intended, if the money end resources was well spent, and if there was another thing that could have been done to make it more efficient.

The last evaluation to be discussed is the evaluation of efficiency. A program is considered efficient when the effects are positive enough to where they offset the costs (Bachman & Schutt, 2011, p. 353). In simple terms, is the money being spent worth it? To evaluate the efficiency of the program, a cost benefit analysis and a cost-effectiveness analysis can be performed. Cost-benefit analysis identifies the specific program costs and the procedures for estimating the monetary value of specific program benefits (Bachman & Schutt, 2011, p. 353). When using this analyses, it is important to identify whose perspective the results are coming from to determine whether the program is a benefit or a cost (Bachman & Schutt, 2011, p. 353). There could be multiple benefits as the result of a project, and this method would determine if the cost of the project was worth each different benefit.

Cost-effectiveness analysis focuses on the outcome of the project, rather than the economic value of the outcome (Bachman & Schutt, 2011, p. 353). If a project is used to reduce recidivism rates amongst teenagers, the end goal is all that matters. Rather than comparing each benefit, tis analysis measures the project in its totality. If recidivism dropped 80% because of the program implemented, the project would be considered a success. If it reduced 5%, and it cost the taxpayers millions of dollars, the project may be considered a failure. In this scenario, reduction in recidivism is all that matters.

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R. (2011). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Beaver, K.M. (2021). CCJ 5705: Week 9 Presentation. Florida State University.

Ruhl, C. (2021, July 26). Simply Psychology. Retrieved from The Broken Windows Theory: https://www.simplypsychology.org/broken-windows-theory.html

Vedantam, S., Benderev, C., Boyle, T., KLahr, R., Penman, M., & Schmidt, J. (2016, November 01). How a Theory of Crime and Policing was Born, and Went Terribly Wrong. Retrieved from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2016/11/01/500104506/broken-windows-policing-and-the-origins-of-stop-and-frisk-and-how-it-went-wrong

Answer 16

Evaluation research is a disciplined and systematic inquiry carried out to assess and appraise a program, practice, or a particular system with an aim of providing information that is vital in decision making (Hunter et al., 2017). Disciplined and systematic inquiries can be described in terms of the quantitative and qualitative procedures followed to arrive at a certain conclusion (Hunter et al., 2017). Various organizations use this type of research to measure the effectiveness of the activities that have been carried out to recommend for an improvement and total change in a certain area of need. For instance, in the criminal justice system, evaluation research heavily contributes to the development of policies and practices to curb and reduce crime rates considerably (Hunter et al., 2017). Also, the research seeks to determine the consequences and the interventions that can be made to deal with a certain behavior in criminals. This paper will discuss the importance of evaluation research to public policies to deal with crime and delinquency.

First, evaluation research is useful in demonstrating the effectiveness of a certain program (Hunter et al., 2017). To a great extent, the government has the obligation to provide security to the people by fighting all manner of crime in society. This is by putting all measures in place that are aimed at curbing crime (Hunter et al., 2017). For instance, a government can erect police stations in an area known to have a high crime rate. After a certain period of time, the government can therefore conduct an evaluation on the new cases in an area. For instance, people can be given questionnaires to fill and their responses later presented in public meetings. If people have noticed a significant drop in the crime rates, then this is enough demonstration that the program has effectively worked.

Secondly, is identifying the ways to improve a program (Hunter et al., 2017). When a program to fight crimes in an area has been established, and an evaluation has been done to find out the effectiveness of the program, then the government can identify how to improve in a certain area (Hunter et al., 2017). For instance, if the area still has continuous crime and the problem is attributed to few police officers, then the government can increase the number of police officers to ensure that patrol is done effectively in the area especially at night. This will prevent criminals from committing any more crimes as they will fear being arrested.

Evaluation research helps in justifying funding and potential aid in additional funding (Hunter et al., 2017). Adequate funding is essential in ensuring some of the public policies in fighting crime are enhanced. This is by equitable and fair allocation of funds to crime-fighting bodies (Hunter et al., 2017). For instance, the courts as part of the criminal justice system have to be allocated enough funds to fight all crimes effectively. This fund can be used to set up other courts in other parts of the country to bring services close to the people. Proper funding is subject to the research conducted to find out how the previous funds were utilized (Hunter et al., 2017). For instance, evidence of the development of new structures from the last funding is enough proof that the fund was utilized in the right way. Therefore, in the next budget, these firms need to have the funding increased as it is properly utilized. Bodies that have mismanaged funds should have the funds reduced and investigated.

Research evaluation is crucial in organizations. It is an important tool determining the overall merit. Through the research, the value of a policy is determined. With the results from the evaluation, the next steps can be followed to achieve the intended goal.

References

Hunter, G., May, T., & Hough, M. (2017). An Evaluation of the What Works Centre for Crime Reduction.

Answer 17

The federal government spends billions to help state law enforcement and communities prevent crime and run programs designed to help victims (Bachman et al., 2020, p.349). The effectiveness of these programs is evaluated through evaluation research. Evaluation research is social research conducted to investigate social programs (Bachman et al., 2020, p.349). Opinions on these programs are not enough to evaluate their effectiveness, but with appropriate methodologies, researchers can use evaluation research to answer the many questions surrounding the success of these programs (Beaver, 2021). For example, schools have implemented the D.A.R.E program to deter children from drug and alcohol usage. It could be the opinion of some that the program is neither practical nor impactful as children still become involved in illicit substances. However, it is not until the program is assessed for conceptualization, design, implementation, and utility that it can be deemed as truly useful or not.

Evaluation research is essential to public policy dealing with crime and delinquency because it shows whether the programs they are implementing are actually worth the investments they are giving it. Evaluation research focuses on program monitoring and the impact, outcomes, and evaluation of efficiency of the programs. Rossi and Freeman (1889) define program monitoring as a systematic attempt to examine program coverage and delivery (Bachman et al., 2020, p.354). Assessing program coverage consists of estimating the extent to which a program reaches its intended target population (Bachman et al., 2020, p.354). Program monitoring is vital because there is no way to reliably determine whether the intended outcomes have occurred without being confident that the programs are operating according to the design (Bachman et al., 2020, p.354). For example, suppose a study shows that the implementation of a program has been delivered to the target population as planned. In that case, an evaluator is to assess the extent to which the program achieved its goals (Bachman et al., 2020, p.357). This is impact analysis; it is essential to understanding the impact of these programs. Programs may indeed have benefits, but are they sufficient to offset the costs of the program? Finally, an efficiency analysis compares programs’ effects to cost (Bachman et al., 2020, p.358). The research uses a cost-effective analysis that focuses on the program’s outcomes rather than the economic value of the outcomes (Bachman et al., 2020, p.358). Research can also use a cost-benefit analysis to identify the program’s cost and the procedure for estimating the value of specific program benefits (Bachman et al., 2020, p.358). This is important as the government is spending so much money to implement public policy programs that deal with crime and delinquency that they must justify funds’ investment. The government can create programs that allow police to patrol hotspots to deal with crime and delinquency, but if these programs have not been properly researched, what purpose do they serve? It is through evaluation research that the value of these programs and public policy to deal with crime and delinquency are determined; without it, they are just ideas and opinions; nothing is empirically based. Leaving the overall impact, outcome, and efficiency unknown.

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R.K. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice (7th Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sag

Beaver, Kevin. (2021). Week Nine Presentation. FSU.

Answer 18

The evaluation research has the primary goal of evaluating the effectiveness of different programs or policies. These evaluations help to make policy choices, change or improve some programs or some parts of them. The evaluation research has a system model which can guide the researcher through this task. The Inputs are all the participants in the program that means the clients, customers, students, groups, or units involved in the process. The program process is when the research needs to understand what is for and what is about the program. The outcome indicates the impact of the program. There are likely to be multiple outcomes of any program. The feedback is the variation between outputs and outcomes. And, the stakeholders are the individual and groups who have some basis of concern with a program. To evaluate a program is essential to answer some questions. In the research evaluation is imperative to be able to answer questions such as: is the program needed? Can the program be evaluated? How does the program operate? What is the program’s impact? How efficient is the program?. In my opinion, the most critical question is how efficient is the program? Because it is going to answer the questions the stakeholders want to know the most. And in some situations is the reason why they want the evaluation in the first place. Questions like: the program’s benefits are sufficient to offset its cost? Are the taxpayers getting their money’s worth? What resources are required by the program?. However, the most important reason I think researchers should do evaluation research is to know if the program works and help to fulfill the expected outcomes. (Bachman & Schutt, 2020)

On the other hand, policy research is a process in which research results are used to provide policy actors with recommendations for action that are based on empirical evidence and careful reasoning. In this evaluation, the researchers must summarize and weigh evidence from different sources. And the goal is to inform the stakeholders (who make policy) about the possible alternative courses of action in response to some problem identified before, their weaknesses, strengths, and likely impact on the community. Once the researcher has available evidence, the evaluation may conclude that the information is complete to proceed with the recommendations. If it is not, then the researcher would need to search for more evidence. The most crucial step is to ensure that the policy has been evaluated with a methodologically rigorous design and proven effective. Based on the common discrepancy between researches and how some of the replicates have different results or recommendations is correct to say that learning what works should rely on more than one study. The systematic review, which will help to know all the available evidence that assess what works and what does not, will include details about the stage of the decision process, the initial questions, the criteria, and the methods used to search for and screen evaluation reports, how analyses were done and how conclusions were reached. (Bachman & Schutt, 2020)

In conclusion, it is vital to evaluate research or a policy evaluation because their efficiency can not be concluded only because we think something works. We need to go through and search with strict criteria if the program or policy works, if they have some points to improve or if they meet the initial expectations. Otherwise, you could be losing money, or you could even be worsening a situation that could be wanted to change. An example of this is a program to improve the effectiveness of emergency response in Colombia. The program sought to organize patrols better and distribute telephone numbers by quadrants (small sectors of the neighborhood), so the citizens could contact directly with the police near their location instead of waiting for the 911 line to locate the police. Unfortunately, this in some neighborhoods worsened the situation since the criminals quickly intercepted the telephone lines and prevented the victim from being assisted in time. This problem was identified thanks to an evaluation, and the necessary changes were made to reach the expected results.

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R.K. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice (7th Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Answer 19

References

Beaver, K.M. (2021). CCJ 5705: Week 9 Presentation. Florida State University.

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R.K. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice (7th Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Answer 20

Evaluation research is social research that is conducted for a distinctive purpose: to investigate social programs (such as substance abuse treatment programs, welfare programs, criminal justice programs, or employment and training programs). For each project, an evaluation researcher must select a research design and method of data collection that are useful for answering the particular research questions posed and appropriate for the particular program investigated. (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). This application of social research techniques to assess the conceptualization, design, implementation, and utility of social intervention programs allows us to see if what we want a program to accomplish is being accomplished. In order to know whether social programs work, or how they work, we have to evaluate them systematically and fairly, regardless of whether we personally like the program (Beaver,2021). Evaluation is not a data collection method but uses multiple methods to collect the necessary data for the evaluation. Surveys may be used to assess need for services program provides, Experimental and quasi-experimental designs may determine effects of the intervention (“treatment”) on the desired outcome and Qualitative research techniques, participant observation to understand how clients experience the programs and whether/how services are carried out (Beaver,2021).

There are five types of evaluation: Needs Assessment, Evaluability Assessment, Process Evaluation (program monitoring), Impact/Outcome Evaluation and Efficiency Study. A needs assessment attempts to answer these questions with systematic, credible evidence. Is a new program needed or an old one still required? Is there a need at all? Before a program is designed and implemented, however, it is essential to obtain reliable information on the nature and scope of the problem and the target population in need of the intervention (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Evaluability Assessment determine whether the program can be evaluated within available time and resources. Evaluability assessment may help clarify program goals or refine program operations. Also, may determine that an evaluation will not provide useful information until the program implements some changes (Beaver,2021). Process Evaluation (program monitoring) are extremely important, primarily because there is no way to reliably determine whether the intended outcomes have occurred without being certain the program is working according to plan (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). They may be conducted in “real time” so that program can implement changed suggested by evaluator to improve program service delivery Called “formative” evaluation typically collects both quantitative and qualitative data (Beaver,2021).

Impact/Outcome Evaluation if a process study shows that the implementation of the program has been delivered to the target population as planned, the next role for an evaluator is to assess the extent to which the program achieved its goals. “Did the program work?” “Did the program have the intended consequences?” (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). Often uses experimental or quasi-experimental designs to assess outcome and impact. Evaluation and Efficiency Study whatever the program’s benefits, are they sufficient to offset the program’s costs? Are the taxpayers getting their money’s worth? What resources are required by the program? These efficiency questions can be the primary reason that funders require evaluation of the programs they fund. As a result, efficiency analysis, which compares program effects to costs, is often a necessary component of an evaluation research project (Bachman & Schutt, 2020). There are two general types of evaluations Cost-benefit – compares program expenditures to monetary value of outcomes/impacts. Cost effectiveness – compares program expenditures to actual outcomes/impacts; how much it costs to achieve a specific outcome (Beaver,2021).

References

Bachman, R., & Schutt, R.K. (2020). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice (7th Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sag

Beaver, Keven. (2021). Week Nine Presentation. FSU.

Answer 21

Evaluation research is not a component of research designs and is not a method of data collection; evaluation research is social research that is conducted for the distinct purpose of investigating social programs. Since each evaluation is unique, the evaluation researcher must design their methods of data collection so that they are useful in answering the questions the researcher is focused on (Bachman & Schutt, 2019, p. 349). Because most programs affiliated with the criminal justice system are publicly funded, evaluation research can be used by elected officials and agency administrators to know where and how to focus their resources and justify those actions with the evaluation (Beaver, 2021).

For twenty-nine weeks during the years of 1992 and 1993, researcher Lawrence W. Sherman, at the request of Kansas City (MO) Police leadership, conducted a police patrol project aimed at reducing gun violence, drive-by shootings, and homicides (“Kansas City (MO) gun experiment,” 1993).

The program process was focused on one specific patrol beat, number 144 in the Central Patrol District of Kansas City. In 1991, this patrol beat, an 80 by 10 block area, had the second highest drive-by shootings of any patrol beat in Kansas City, and had a homicide rate that was about twenty times higher than the national average (“Kansas City (MO) gun experiment,” 1993).

The outputs were three-fold. First, the officers would go door-to-door soliciting anonymous tips about guns. Second, additional training was given to officers regarding the cues in body language given off by a person carrying a gun. Third, extra officers would be assigned to patrol beat 144, and there would be an increase in traffic stops and field interrogations.

The outcomes of these three varied greatly. The door-to-door solicitation of tips was an almost complete failure. The training of the officers regarding the body language of gun toting criminals did not seem to cause an increase in gun seizures outside of patrol beat 144. The increase in traffic stops and field interrogations inside patrol beat 144, however, was a success. In the 29 weeks prior to the start of the hot spot patrol in beat 144, there were 169 gun crimes. During the 29 weeks of the hot spot patrol, there were only 86 gun crimes, a decrease of 49%. Outside patrol beat 144, the number of gun crimes during the same period was not statistically significant and basically unchanged. Additionally, there was no displacement reported. The seven neighboring patrol beats did not observe any significant increase in gun crime (“Kansas City (MO) gun experiment,” 1993).

The feedback from this evaluation research is that when a law enforcement agency puts extra police officers in an area that specifically has high crime, and those officers focus on interactions with citizens in that area, guns and drugs will be seized and the violent crime rate will decline.

The stakeholders in this research are the politicians, police administrators, and the citizens of Kansas City, MO. The research can help the politicians and administrators to justify spending on more officers for patrol, while the citizens can feel like their tax dollars are being used appropriately to make them safer in their communities.

References

Bachman, R. D., & Schutt, R. K. (2019). The practice of research in criminology and criminal justice. SAGE Publications.

Beaver, K. (2021, October). Evaluation Research and Policy [PowerPoint]. Canvas/FSU.

Kansas City (MO) gun experiment. (1993). Youth.gov. https://youth.gov/content/kansas-city-mo-gun-experiment

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[Answered] CCJ 5705 – Discuss the importance of evaluation research to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency.

[Answered] CCJ 5705 – Discuss the importance of evaluation research to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency.

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Tutor Peter

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[Answered] CCJ 5705 – Discuss the importance of evaluation research to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency.

[Answered] CCJ 5705 – Discuss the importance of evaluation research to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency.

[Answered] CCJ 5705 – Discuss the importance of evaluation research to public policies that deal with crime and delinquency.

Answer 1

Answer 2

Answer 3

Answer 4

Answer 5

Answer 6

Answer 7

Answer 8

Answer 9

Answer 10

Answer 11

Answer 12

Answer 13

Answer 14

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Answer 16

Answer 17

Answer 18

Answer 19

Answer 20

Answer 21

Tutor Peter

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