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Lecture:10 UnderstandingEducationPolicy: Formulation,AnalysisandImplementation Policy evaluation & types of policy evaluation 18 July 2024 Thursday Professor Shafiul Azam PhD
Evaluation in the field of public policy that can be broadly defined as an analytical tool and procedure designed to accomplish two main tasks. Firstly, as an analytical tool, evaluation research involves examining a policy program to gather all relevant information needed to assess its performance, including both the processes and outcomes. Secondly, as a phase in the policy cycle, evaluation refers to the process of reporting this information back into the policy-making process. What is policy evaluation
We will discuss the types of evaluation as following two aspects
Purpose: Anticipate and pre-assess effects and consequences of planned policies/actions. Process: Alternative Analysis: Evaluate different policy options to aid in making more transparent, foreseeable, and debatable choices. Implementation Pre-Assessment: Analyze potential course and process of policy implementation. Environmental Impact Assessment: Predict environmental consequences of proposed policies and measures Goal: Inform and enhance the decision-making process with foresight. Ex-ante evaluation
Ongoing Evaluation • Purpose: Evaluate effects and outcomes of policies while they are being implemented. • Analytical Approach: Provides objective insights, focusing on unbiased assessment of implementation processes. • Interventionist Approach: Involves active participation to address implementation issues and ensure policy goals are met, akin to action-oriented research. • Monitoring: • Continuous assessment using performance indicators (PIs) to measure the impact of ongoing activities. • Helps track progress and identify areas needing improvement in real-time. This ongoing evaluation framework informs decision-makers and stakeholders about policy effectiveness and guides adjustments for better outcomes
Ex-post evaluation It evaluates outcomes and impacts of policies and programs after their completion. • Tasks of Ex-Post Evaluation: • Goal Attainment Assessment: • Measures the extent to which policy goals are achieved. • Challenges include defining and measuring appropriate indicators. • Effects Assessment: • Examines both intended and unintended consequences of policies. • Addresses causal relationships between observed effects and policies. • Methodological Challenges: • Requires robust tools to establish causal links between policies and outcomes. Ex-post evaluation provides critical insights into policy effectiveness and informs future decision-making.
Meta-evaluation Meta-evaluation serves as a comprehensive review process that examines completed evaluations through secondary analysis. It encompasses two main types: • methodology-reviewing meta-evaluation, which evaluates the adherence of primary evaluations to methodological standards, and • synthesizing meta-evaluation, which consolidates and interprets the substantive findings from multiple evaluations. The primary goal of meta-evaluation is twofold: • to ensure the quality and rigor of evaluations by assessing methodological criteria, and • to provide synthesized insights that can inform decision-making processes effectively. By validating methods and synthesizing diverse findings, meta-evaluation contributes to enhancing transparency, credibility, and the overall effectiveness of evaluation practices in informing policy and programmatic decisions.
Rigorous evaluation Aims to provide a comprehensive view of policy outcomes, including successes and failures. Analytically identifies factors contributing to success and facilitates learning across national borders. Faces challenges like ecological fallacy when translating strategies between different contexts.
Classical evaluation and CBA • Classical Evaluation: • Focuses on assessing goal attainment (ex-post) or estimating goal attainability (ex-ante). • Evaluates effectiveness of policies and measures in relation to resources invested. • Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA): • Compares outcomes achieved with resources expended. • Emphasizes efficiency by assessing benefits relative to costs. • Can be applied ex-post to evaluate efficiency retrospectively. Classical evaluation and CBA provide frameworks for assessing policy effectiveness and efficiency, with CBA specifically focusing on cost-effectiveness in achieving goals.
Internal evaluation Internal evaluation, or self-evaluation, is conducted within an organization by its own operating agency. It's often referred to as self-evaluation and involves methods such as hierarchical oversight and regular internal reporting. This practice is essential for maintaining internal accountability and improving operational performance within organizational frameworks. • Why internal evaluation (self-evaluation) is crucial for organizations to assess their performance and improve accountability. • Explore the different methods organizations use for internal evaluation, such as regular internal reporting. • Analyze how effective self-evaluation practices contribute to improving operational efficiency and achieving organizational goals.
External evaluation • Initiated by External Sources: • Contracted by entities outside the administrative unit. • Often driven by political or structural interests. • Purpose: • Oversee policy implementation by the administration. • Ensure accountability and effectiveness. • Examples of Initiators: • Institutions like parliaments and courts of audits. • Government bodies such as the Prime Minister’s Office or Finance Ministry. External evaluation plays a crucial role in providing independent oversight and assessing the impact of policies implemented by administrative units.
