Log in
Building the Knowledge Base of Nonprofit Management:
A Searchable Database
Evaluating Program Outcomes as Event Histories
Abstract
Social service programs operate in an outcome-driven climate of
program service delivery where external funding and regulating bodies
demand outcome reporting. Administrative tools are needed to assist
with decision-making that aims to improve program services and
outcomes. In this article, we present Event History Analysis (EHA) as
a statistical tool that can be used to investigate whether particular
factors such as client or service characteristics lead to better
outcomes in a family preservation program. The authors present a
conceptual overview of EHA and discuss its utility as a diagnostic
tool for program planning. Additionally, a demonstration of EHA is
presented using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
software. The authors also illustrate how EHA can be used to explore
program data beyond periodic counts of client outcome success and
failure, and make meaningful time-sensitive changes to service
delivery. Using three client characteristics that contribute to the
risk of abuse: learning disability, family income, and family size,
the article discusses the program and practice implications of these
variables in working in a family preservation program. The article
aims to provide a basic understanding of EHA for social service
managers or administrators, since it is quickly becoming a common
analytical method in social work research. Equipped with a conceptual
understanding of EHA, administrators can direct their program e
valuators to conduct EHA on program data. (PsycINFO Database Record
(c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Journal
(2006)
vol30
no1
pages45-65
Categories
-
Evaluation and Information Management
-
Program Evaluation Strategies
