Program Evaluation in Social Work
Program evaluation in social work is the systematic application of social-science methods to judge a program's need, design, implementation, outcomes, and efficiency, in order to improve programs and inform decisions about them. Drawing on the evaluation-research tradition of Rossi, Lipsey, and Freeman and adapted for social work by Royse, Thyer, and Padgett, it spans a hierarchy of evaluation questions — from whether a program is needed and well-conceived to whether it is delivered as intended, produces the intended outcomes, and is worth its cost.
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Method map
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Sources
- Rossi, P. H., Lipsey, M. W., & Freeman, H. E. (2004). Evaluation: A Systematic Approach (7th ed.). SAGE Publications. ISBN: 9780761908944
- Royse, D., Thyer, B. A., & Padgett, D. K. (2016). Program Evaluation: An Introduction to an Evidence-Based Approach (6th ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9781305101968
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 22). Program Evaluation of Social Work and Human Services Programs. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/social-work/program-evaluation-social-work
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- Community Needs AssessmentSocial Work↔ compare
- Concept MappingSocial Work↔ compare
- Evidence-Based Practice ProcessSocial Work↔ compare
- Logic ModelSocial Work↔ compare