Cost-Inclusive Evaluation: Planning It, Doing It, Using It

Evaluating the costs of a program is essential for getting changes made and funding delivered. This book provides a roadmap for measuring program costs and outcomes and analyzing cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, and cost-utility. It also includes simplified ways to use economic appraisal methodologies and examples from human services, education, and health care contexts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2023
Publisher: Guilford Publications

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.

Program evaluation is a critical process that helps organizations make informed decisions about the effectiveness and efficiency of their programs. It involves assessing the costs and benefits of a program, as well as its impact on the target population. This evaluation can be used to improve the program, allocate resources more effectively, and demonstrate the value of the program to stakeholders.

There are several methods that can be used to evaluate the costs and benefits of a program. One of the most common methods is cost-benefit analysis, which involves calculating the costs of the program and the benefits it provides to the target population. This analysis can be used to determine whether the program is cost-effective, meaning that the benefits it provides outweigh the costs.

Another method is cost-effectiveness analysis, which involves comparing the costs of a program with the costs of alternative programs that provide the same benefits. This analysis can be used to determine whether the program is the most cost-effective way to achieve the desired outcomes.

Cost-utility analysis is another method that can be used to evaluate the costs and benefits of a program. This analysis involves comparing the costs of a program with the benefits it provides to the target population, but also takes into account the quality of life that the program provides to the target population. This analysis can be used to determine whether the program is providing a good return on investment.

In addition to these methods, there are several other factors that can be considered when evaluating the costs and benefits of a program. These factors include the impact of the program on the target population, the sustainability of the program, and the scalability of the program.

One of the challenges of program evaluation is ensuring that the evaluation is accurate and reliable. This requires careful planning and execution of the evaluation, as well as the use of appropriate data and analysis methods. It is also important to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders, including the target population, program staff, and policymakers.

Another challenge of program evaluation is ensuring that the evaluation is timely. This requires that the evaluation be conducted at the appropriate time, such as when the program is being implemented or when it is being evaluated. It is also important to ensure that the evaluation is conducted regularly, such as every year or every two years, to ensure that the program is continuing to meet its goals and objectives.

In conclusion, program evaluation is a critical process that helps organizations make informed decisions about the effectiveness and efficiency of their programs. It involves assessing the costs and benefits of a program, as well as its impact on the target population. There are several methods that can be used to evaluate the costs and benefits of a program, including cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis, and other factors such as the impact of the program on the target population, the sustainability of the program, and the scalability of the program. It is important to ensure that the evaluation is accurate and reliable, timely, and considers the perspectives of all stakeholders.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781462551248