Category: Research & Summaries

Rely on the resources in Canvas to inform your responses. When writing short essays, use complete sentences and provide appropriate citations when necessary.

1. Create a scenario that requires you to conduct an economic evaluation. Using the same scenario, provide one example when you would conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis, a costutility analysis, and a costbenefit analysis? Rely on the resources in Canvas to inform your responses.
2. Match the question to the best possible answer.

Questions

• How do the costs associated with this program compare to two other program alternatives?
• Is there a net social benefit?
• What is the ratio of costs per student?

Terms

• Cost-utility analysis
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Cost-effectiveness analysis

1. In the case of economic evaluations generally, the goal is to __________ costs and benefits, using an __________ to choose between __________, __________, __________, or project alternatives, or between the __________ and one or more alternatives.
2. What is an ex ante analyses? Second, at what point in the performance management cycle would you conduct this type of analyses? Lastly, do the goals of an ex ante analyses differ ex post analyses
3. Cost-effectivenes analysis is preferred to cost-benefit analysis by many evaluators, especially in health. Why is this the case? Do you agree that CEA should be the preferred choice over CBA? Provide specific examples to illustrate your point.
4. Discuss the strengths and limitations of economic analysis as an approach to evaluating projects and programs.
5. What is the difference between direct and indirect costs? Consider your current field/clinical placement. Provide an example of each.
6. The only use of performance measurement information in public sector organizations is to improve accountability. True/False
7. The attribution problem in performance measurement has to do with not being able to find valid measures of program results. True/False
8. A counterfactual condition is sometimes used in program evaluations to represent what would have happened without the program. True/False
9. What is the purpose of an organizational logic model in designing performance measurement systems?
10. The Government Performance and Results Act was intended to bring performance measurement to all state governments in the United States. True/False
11. Fundamentally, program evaluation facilitates describing program results, and performance measurement is aimed at asking why those results occur. True/False
12. What are the four criteria for clear program objectives?
13. What are the four clusters of performance measures typically included in a balanced scorecard?
14. What is a performance measurement? Then, consider your current field/clinical placement. Describe three programs, policies, or initiatives being implemented. For each program/policy/initiative, identify at least two measures or key performance indicator for each program, policy, or initiative discussed.
15. In the open systems/biological metaphor, organisms interact with their environments in a reciprocal fashion with a goal of achieving homeostasis.
16. Triangulation involves having two or more measures of the same construct in a logic model. True/False
17. McDavid et al. (2019) identified four types of organizations (p. 386). What are the four types of organizations? Then, consider your field/clinical placement. Which classification most closely resembles your field/clinical placement? Justify your response. My field placement is South Carolina Department of Social Service – CPS Department
18. There is a clear difference between formative and summative evaluations. Determine whether the definition and the types of studies listed below are representative of formative or summative evaluations. Move the definition and studies under the correct category.

Categories

• Formative Evaluation
• Summative Evaluation

Definitions

• Qualitative evaluation
• Cost-utility analysis
• Cost-effectiveness analysis
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Typically conducted internally to improve efficiency and/or effectiveness of existing policies, programs, or initiatives.
• Experimental design
• Customer satisfaction survey
• Empowerment Evaluation
• High stakes evaluation to determine whether the program should be continued, expanded, or contracted.
• Ad hoc evaluations

1. This question requires you to apply course content knowledge to your field/clinical placement. My field placement is South Carolina Department of Social Services- CPS Department.

• Accredited institutions or programs are required to demonstrate alignment between accreditation standards and the institutional/programmatic practices. At the nexus of the accreditation process is the capacity of leaders to design and implement program evaluation systems that are meaningful.
• Identify a set of standards that govern your field/clinical placement. (See Resources on Accreditation or leverage the organization’s strategic plan.)
• Then, describe the current process for evaluating a policy, program, or initiative.
• Describe the type of data and ways that data is collected to support the program evaluation process.

1. Consider your professional experiences, your field/clinical placement, and the content in this course. Identify at least three challenges to the development and implementation of an evaluative culture.

McDavid et al. (2019). Chp. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,

Kennedy (2024). Chp. 5.

Write a personal narrative essay (750-900 words) that focuses on a meaningful moment or experience that shaped your perspective on a specific aspect of life (e.g., family, friendship, personal growth, or a challenge overcome). The essay should tell a complete story with clear beginning, middle, and end, while demonstrating mastery of basic narrative elements.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

– Apply key narrative techniques (plot structure, character development, setting, and point of view)

– Use descriptive language and sensory details to engage readers

– Develop a clear central theme or message that ties the narrative together

– Follow standard academic formatting and grammar guidelines

REQUIREMENTS

1. Content:

– Tell a true personal story from your own experience

– Include a clear thesis statement that previews the narratives focus and theme

– Use first-person point of view (“I”) consistently

– Incorporate at least three types of sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

2. Structure:

– Introduction: Hook the reader and introduce the context of the story

– Body Paragraphs (3-4): Develop the narrative sequence with logical transitions

– Conclusion: Reflect on the experience and explain its significance

3. Formatting:

– Double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font

– 1-inch margins on all sides

– Include a creative title centered at the top of the first page

– MLA style heading in the top left corner (your name, instructors name, course title, date)

4. Deadline: Submit via the course learning management system by 11:59 PM on [insert date e.g., February 28, 2026]

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

– File type: Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF only

– File name: LastName_FirstName_ENG101_NarrativeEssay.docx

– Include a separate cover sheet with your name, student ID, course code, and assignment title

GRADING CRITERIA

– Narrative Structure & Organization (25%)

– Use of Narrative Techniques & Sensory Details (25%)

– Clarity of Theme & Reflection (20%)

– Grammar, Spelling, & Punctuation (20%)

– Fo

Write a personal narrative essay (750-900 words) that focuses on a meaningful moment or experience that shaped your perspective on a specific aspect of life (e.g., family, friendship, personal growth, or a challenge overcome). The essay should tell a complete story with clear beginning, middle, and end, while demonstrating mastery of basic narrative elements.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

– Apply key narrative techniques (plot structure, character development, setting, and point of view)

– Use descriptive language and sensory details to engage readers

– Develop a clear central theme or message that ties the narrative together

– Follow standard academic formatting and grammar guidelines

REQUIREMENTS

1. Content:

– Tell a true personal story from your own experience

– Include a clear thesis statement that previews the narratives focus and theme

– Use first-person point of view (“I”) consistently

– Incorporate at least three types of sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

2. Structure:

– Introduction: Hook the reader and introduce the context of the story

– Body Paragraphs (3-4): Develop the narrative sequence with logical transitions

– Conclusion: Reflect on the experience and explain its significance

3. Formatting:

– Double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font

– 1-inch margins on all sides

– Include a creative title centered at the top of the first page

– MLA style heading in the top left corner (your name, instructors name, course title, date)

4. Deadline: Submit via the course learning management system by 11:59 PM on [insert date e.g., February 28, 2026]

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

– File type: Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF only

– File name: LastName_FirstName_ENG101_NarrativeEssay.docx

– Include a separate cover sheet with your name, student ID, course code, and assignment title

GRADING CRITERIA

– Narrative Structure & Organization (25%)

– Use of Narrative Techniques & Sensory Details (25%)

– Clarity of Theme & Reflection (20%)

– Grammar, Spelling, & Punctuation (20%)

– Formatting & Submission Requirements (10%)rmatting & Submission Requirements (10%)

Conflict Assessment, Early Warning, and Prevention. Case Study Liberia 14 years Civil War

Thoughts to Ponder:

What indicators may give us early warning that violent conflict is about to occur?