Practical Program Evaluation Assessing and Improving Planning, Implementation, and Effectiveness

VOLUME 3: NO.
1 JANUARY 2006
BOOK REVIEW
Practical Program Evaluation: Assessing

and Improving Planning, Implementation,
and Effectiveness
Author: Huey-Tsyh Chen, PhD evaluation taxonomy development. The taxonomy and
SAGE Publications, Inc, Thousand Oaks, Calif overview of the process are excellent tools for strengthen-
Publication Date: October 2004 ing communication between stakeholders and evaluators.
304 pages The work is replete with diagrams, examples, and defini-
Price: $69.95 (hardcover), $34.95 (paperback) tions and would be a welcome addition to any evaluation
ISBN: 0-7619-0232-5 (hardcover), 0-7619-0233-3 (paper- course curriculum.
back)
Chen states that the intended audience for this book is
Suggested citation for this article: Lavinghouze SR. students who have completed an entry-level evaluation
Practical program evaluation: assessing and improving course, as well as seasoned evaluators who would like to
planning, implementation, and effectiveness [book review]. expand their knowledge and strengthen their practical
Prev Chronic Dis [serial online] 2006 Jan [date cited]. skills. He acknowledges that many of the terms and def-
Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/ initions presented are not consistent with terms readily
jan/05_0121.htm. found in the current literature, but he encourages the
readers to broaden their understanding of evaluation.
Practical Program Evaluation: Assessing and For example, Chen discards the logic model in favor of
Improving Planning, Implementation, and Effectiveness is his action-model and change-model approach. Although
an excellent first step toward a much-needed program this could be an interesting challenge for seasoned eval-
evaluation taxonomy — one that is particularly useful for uators, it might prove more of a burden for novice evalu-
those new to evaluation, as well as for seasoned evalua- ators. In the final chapters, Chen also briefly addresses
tors who would like to encourage understanding of the some criticisms of theory-driven evaluation and chal-
evaluation process. In this four-part, 11-chapter book, lenges evaluation practitioners to think about the poli-
Chen discusses the evaluation process from program tics and contributions of evaluation activities.
planning to outcome assessment. He advocates a theory-
driven evaluation approach that supports his taxonomy Chen also skillfully demonstrates that stakeholder
and provides a thorough review of the theory-driven theory is a legitimate basis for theory-driven programs
approach. Chen explains that many evaluation concepts and needs to be explained and vetted like established
are too vague or ambiguous to apply effectively to actual theories of behavior change such as the Health Belief
evaluations. He proposes an evaluation taxonomy to Model. He reminds evaluation practitioners that pro-
exemplify a holistic approach to evaluation practice. The gram theory and the program itself belong to the
new taxonomy supports evaluators in their attempts to stakeholders. Chen proposes that the role evaluation
understand and apply evaluation designs, data collection practitioners should play varies from one of objective
techniques, and use of evaluation information at a prac- observer to one of a clear partner in the development
tical program level. This is no small achievement and and design of the program. With these varying roles,
should be an impetus for additional work in the area of the evaluation approach will also change.
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only
and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/jan/05_0121.htm • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1
VOLUME 3: NO. 1
JANUARY 2006
As with all the strategies and approaches he addresses,

Chen provides a thorough discussion of the positives and
negatives of efficiency and effectiveness evaluation.
Although the book provides an insightful discussion of
evaluation in the program planning, development, and
maturation stages, Chen does not discuss evaluation use
or discern intended users (program stakeholders). The tax-
onomy presented can guide evaluation practitioners
through the conceptualization and implementation of
approaches and methods suited to each stage of a pro-
gram’s development. However, it does not provide ade-
quate guidance for obtaining stakeholder questions and
evaluation priorities. Chen does argue for the inclusion of
stakeholders throughout the evaluation process and pro-
poses that use of the taxonomy will facilitate discussions
between evaluators and stakeholders, but this will be
derived from the program theory and stage of develop-
ment rather than from the intended users and projected
uses of the evaluation. Chen’s discussion of qualitative,
quantitative, and mixed methods still helps students con-
ceptualize potential problems and learn how to address
them as they read about the abundance of evaluation
approaches available.
The book is a welcome addition to the expanding litera-

ture on evaluation, because it provides an overall concep-
tualization of the evaluation process from program design
to implementation. Although the book is somewhat limited
by its lack of discussion about how evaluation results are
used, this breakthrough in conceptualization will surely
encourage more work in the area.
S. René Lavinghouze
Division of Oral Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Ga
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only
and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/jan/05_0121.htm

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VOLUME 3: NO.

Practical Program Evaluation: Assessing

As with all the strategies and approaches he addresses,

The book is a welcome addition to the expanding litera-

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