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METAEVALUATION. An Overview ( dls 8/30/11). Key Questions. 1. What is the essence of metaevaluation ? 2. Why is metaevaluation important? 3, What are the benefits of sound metaevaluations ? 4 . What is a basic framework for metaevaluation roles & execution?
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METAEVALUATION An Overview (dls 8/30/11)
Key Questions • 1. What is the essence of metaevaluation? • 2. Why is metaevaluation important? • 3, What are the benefits of sound metaevaluations? • 4. What is a basic framework for metaevaluation roles & execution? • 5. What are key sources of metaevaluation criteria? • 6. What is an operational definition of metaevluation? • 7. What are key metaevaluation tasks? • 8. What qualifications are needed to conduct metaevaluations? • 9. What are some examples of metaevaluation? • 10. How is metaevaluation related to meta-analysis?
1. What is the essence of metaevaluation? • Fundamentally, a metaevaluation is an evaluation of an evaluation. • Loosely, a metaevaluation is to an evaluation as a financial audit is to an accounting process and report. • In both cases, the aim is to help assure or to determine that the subject study is sound and that it meets the pertinent professional standards.
2. Why is metaevaluation important? • Evaluation is of fundamental importance to society. • Help assure & confirm cost-effectiveness • Help assure & confirm soundness, safety, & fairness • Help assure & confirm beneficial outcomes • Many things can and do threaten success of evaluations. • Narrow focus • Conflicts of interest • Bias • Unreliable data • Invalid conclusions
3. What are the benefits of metaevaluations? • Help assure but also judge the soundness of evaluations • Assess evaluations for efficiency, effectiveness, & propriety • Provide direction for improving evaluation services • Contribute to professionalizing the evaluation field • Enhances credibility of evaluation services
5. What are sources of metaevaluation criteria? • AEA (2011). Guiding Principles for Evaluators • GAO (2007). Government Auditing Standards • Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (2011). The Program Evaluation Standards
6. What is an operational definition of metaevluation? • Metaevaluation is • the process of delineating, obtaining, & applying descriptive information & judgmental information—about pertinent criteria—including the evaluand’s utility, feasibility, propriety, accuracy, & accountability & its systematic nature, competent execution, integrity, respectfulness, & social responsibility—in order to guide the evaluation & report its strengths & weaknesses.
7. What are key metaevaluation tasks? • 1. Staff the evaluation • 2. Interact with stakeholdrers • 3. Define the metaevaluation questions • 4. Agree on standards to judge the evaluation • 5. Contract for the metaevaluation • 6. Collect & review existing, relevant information • 7. Collect new information, as needed • 8. Analyze & synthesize findings • 9. Judge the evaluation against the chosen standards • 10. Report findings • 11. Help the client & others to interpret & apply findings
8. What qualifications are needed to conduct metaevaluations? • Working knowledge of evaluation standards • Expertise in qualitative & quantitative methods • Comprehension of the evaluation’s subject program • Successful metaevaluation experience • Training in the standards and tasks of evaluation & metaevaluation • Honesty, integrity, & respect of individuals & society • Skills in contracting • Abilities in communication & collaboration • Ability to staff & manage complex enterprises
9. What are examples of metaevaluation? • Arthur Anderson evaluation of Enron accounting reports • EC’s metaevaluation of the Marine Corps Performance Review System • Metaevaluation of Teach for America’s teacher evaluation system • A metaevaluation of NAGB’s system of levels for judging student performance on NAEP • DLS metaevaluations of state-level evaluations of India’s national primary school reform program • Metaevaluation of and external evaluation of the NYC school district’s Waterford Integrated Learning System
10. How is metaevaluation related to meta-analysis? • A metaevaluation assesses an evaluation. • A meta-analysis quantitatively synthesizes studies that address a common research question, e.g., concerning the differential effects of treatment & control conditions. • Metaevaluations may be used to assess candidate studies for a meta-analysis. • Metaevaluations also can assess a meta-analysis final report. • Meta-analyses are rarely applicable in metaevaluations
Closing • The preceding is a general overview of key matters related to metaevaluation. • Metaevaluation is a special case of evaluation which focuses on evaluation studies, devices, & systems. • Metaevaluation is important to help assure the soundness of evaluations. • Metaevaluation serves evaluation audiences & society by systematically assessing completed evaluations. • Metaevaluations must be keyed to the standards of sound evaluation. • Of course, metaevaluations should themselves be evaluated.