1. Rest of Course Proposals & Research Design Measurement Sampling
Survey methods
Basic Statistics for Survey Analysis
Experiments
Other Approaches- Observation, qualitative methods

2. Topics for Today 1. Evaluation Research Proposal Format
2. Introduction to Research Design
Primary & Secondary Data
Qualitative & Quantitative Approaches
Survey & Experiments
On-Site & Household designs
3. Common Problems/Approaches in PRTR

3. Communicate with Client Demonstrate your grasp of problem
Purposes of Proposal
Communicate with Client
Demonstrate your grasp of problem
Plan the study in advance, so others can evaluate the study approach
will it work?
have you overlooked something?
will results be useful to client?
Can we afford it?

4. Proposal Format
1. Problem Statement - define program to be evaluated/problem to be studied, users & uses of results. Justify importance of the problem/study.
2. Objectives : Concise listing . In evaluation studies, the objectives usually focus on the key elements of program to be evaluated & the evaluation criteria. These are the study objectives NOT the program objectives.
3. Background/Literature Review - place for more extensive history/structure of program. Focus on aspects most relevant to proposed evaluation. Discuss previous studies or the relevant methods.
4. Methods - details on procedures for achieving objectives - data gathering and analysis, population, sampling, measures, etc. Who will do what to whom, when, where, how and why?
5. Attachments - budget, timeline, measurement instruments, etc.
NOTE: Most “programs” must be narrowed to specific components to be evaluated. Think of a “Program of studies” rather than a single evaluation study. The proposal should define this specific study & how it fits into a broader program of studies.

5. Sample Objectives
1. Estimate benefits and costs of program
2. Estimate economic impacts of program on local community (social, environmental, fiscal).
3. Determine effects of program on target population.
4. Describe users and non-users of program
5. Assess community recreation needs, preferences
6. Determine market/financial feasibility of program
7. Evaluate adequacy or performance of program

6. Typical Research Objectives
Describe a sample or population
Identify/test relationships between variables in a population:
statistical
cause-effect
Quantify the relationship
Average income of MI Snowmobilers in 1998 is $45K
SB with higher incomes spend more money
After safety program, SB’s have fewer accidents
SB spend per day = $ * Income

7. Variable Terminology
Variables : any characteristic that varies across individuals in a population (i.e. takes on different values for different individuals).
Dependent variable is the one you are trying to predict or explain, usually the focus of your study
Independent variables are the ones that help explain the dependent variable.
In Program evaluation, the outcomes are generally the dependent variables and characteristics of program or target populations are independent. In a cause effect relationship, cause is independent & effect dependent.

8. Methods Choices Overall Approach/Design
Qualitative or Quantitative
Primary or secondary data
Survey, experiment, case study, etc.
Who to study - population, sample
individuals, market segments, populations
What to study - concepts, measures
behavior, knowledge, attitudes
Cost vs Benefit of Study

9. Qualitative vs Quantitative Approaches
Focus Group
In-Depth Interview
Case Study
Participant observation
Secondary data analysis
Quantitative
Surveys
Experiments
Structured observation

10. Qualitative vs Quantitative
Gen’l Laws
Test Hypotheses
Predict behavior
Outsider-Objective
Structured
formal measures
probability samples
statistical analysis
Qualitative
Unique/Individual case
Understanding
Meanings/Intentions
Insider-Subjective
Unstructured
open ended measures
judgement samples
interpretation of data
Purpose
Perspective
Procedures

11. Primary or Secondary Data
Secondary data are data that were collected for some purpose other than your study, e.g. government records, internal documents, previous surveys
Choice between Primary /Secondary Data
Costs (time, money, personnel)
Relevance, accuracy, adequacy of data

12. Research Designs/Data Collection Approaches

13. (field and lab experiments)
Survey vs Experiment
Survey - measure things as they are, snapshot of population at one point in time, generally refers to questionnaires
(telephone, self-administered, personal interview)
Experiment - manipulate at least one variable (treatment) to evaluate response, to study cause-effect relationships
(field and lab experiments)

14. General Guidelines on when to use different approaches
1. Describing a population - surveys
2. Describing users/visitors - on-site survey
3. Describing non-users, potential users or general population - household survey
4. Describing observable characteristics of visitors - on-site observation
5. Measuring impacts, cause-effect relationships - experiments

15. Guidelines (cont)
6. Anytime suitable secondary data exists - secondary data
7. Short, simple household studies - phone
8. Captive audience or very interested population - self-administered survey
9. Testing new ideas - experimentation or focus groups
10. In-depth study - in-depth personal interviews, focus groups, case studies