Where Do I Start?

Evaluation is a process that involves asking questions, collecting and analyzing data to make judgments about our programs, improve our programs and inform our planning decisions. 

As a member of Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development, you are responsible for making sure your programs are as good as they can be, meet the needs and use resources wisely. Working with volunteers and youth raises particular issues for evaluation.

First Things First!

Getting started - Why are you doing the evaluation?  What will you evaluate?  What are the steps for conducting an evaluation for youth development programs? PowerPoint to be developed by ETP

General Resources on Topics of Interest

Planning Your Evaluation

• Planning a Program Evaluation (27 pages, 333 KB) - Program Development and Evaluation Publication #G3658 that provides a helpful overview of planning for a program evaluation.  The publication addresses focusing the evaluation, collecting the information, using the information and managing the evaluation.
• Planning a Program Evaluation Worksheet (4 pages, 80 KB) - Program Development Evaluation Publication #G3658-1W is a companion worksheet for the Planning a Program Evaluation publication.
• Evaluation standards; PDE (Quick Tip) ETP to provide description and link to document

Human Subjects Protection

• Human Subjects Protection - Human Subjects Protection is about safeguarding the welfare and protecting the rights of individuals who participate as subjects in research and non-research assessments sponsored by UW Extension. The University of Wisconsin-Extension Human Protection Education website includes links to the Human Subjects Protection certification training course, a decision tree and other helpful documents.
• Human Subjects Protection - Youth Specific
  • Self-Assessment Decision-Tree - The self-assessment posted on the UW-Extension Human Subjects Protection website. Review carefully for specific information related to youth audiences.
  • Sample Consent Language - Refer to pages 1 and 3 for specific information regarding consent for youth participants.
  • Frequently Asked Questions - References are included to unique aspects of Human Subjects Protection when youth audiences are involved.

Youth Specific issues

Overview:  brief instructional Powerpoint (how is evaluation involving youth participants unique?) ETP to start e-mail discussion on the topic

• Involving youth in evaluation
  • Powerpoint:  brief instructional Powerpoint - MC
  • Accessible PDF - MC
• Human subjects considerations when working with youth
• Overview:  brief instructional Powerpoint - DM
• Samples (Do we have any of these samples from statewide projects?)
  • Completed HSP form in WORD format (example of submission to Secretary of faculty/Academic Staff)
  • Letter to parent in WORD format
  • Permission form in WORD format
  • Consent to participate in survey in WORD format
  • Informed consent form in WORD format

What Do I Want to Know?

Focus the Evaluation  

Focusing an evaluation on a set of critical questions you want answered is key to successful evaluation. 

• Overview:  brief Powerpoint instructional module (8-10 slides as intro) - ETP

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