You are here

Evaluation Practice for Projects with Young People
Share

Evaluation Practice for Projects with Young People
A Guide to Creative Research

Additional resources:


March 2015 | 248 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

 This straightforward and original text sets out best practice for designing, conducting and analysing research on work with young people. A creative and practical guide to evaluation, it provides the tools needed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and applied practice.

Written by an experienced, erudite team of authors this book provides clear, pragmatic advice that can be taken into the classroom and the field.

The book:

  • Provides strategies for involving young people in research and evaluation
  • Showcases creative and participatory methods
  • Weaves a real world project through each chapter, highlighting challenges and opportunities at each stage of an evaluation; readers are thus able to compare approaches
  • Is accompanied by a website with downloadable worksheets, templates and videos from the authors

This is the ideal text for postgraduate students and practitioners who work with young people in the statutory and voluntary sectors.

 

 

 
Introduction
 
Chapter 1: The Evaluation Context
 
Chapter 2: Evaluation Methodology
 
Chapter 3: Evaluation Ethics
 
Chapter 4: Types of Evaluation
 
Chapter 5: Power
 
Chapter 6: Planning Evaluations – An Overview
 
Chapter 7: Collecting Data to Evaluate
 
Chapter 8: Using Mixed Methods in Evaluation
 
Chapter 9: Analysing Evaluation Data
 
Chapter 10: Writing Evaluation Reports and Presenting to Different Audiences
 
Conclusion

This is an excellent text which challenges the traditional notion of research as a highbrow, pseudo-scientific activity by intellectuals.  It is full of creative and practical ideas for evaluating projects and giving a voice to lots of very clever, but rarely heard, young people.

Annette Rimmer
Applied Community and Youth Work, University of Manchester

This is a vital text, that presents a compelling narrative about the importance of evaluation in youth work practice, and as a youth work tool. It is thorough and detailed, but always accessible; never shying away from challenges but meeting them with optimism. It deftly weaves together theory and practice, and feels above all very alive - full of insight, enquiry and experience. 

Bethia McNeil
Head of Innovation & Service Design , The Social Research Unit

Excellent book for student looking for creative ways to research & evaluate

Mrs denise Burke Mac Giolla Ri
Humanities , AIT Athlone Institute of Technology
January 21, 2016

This book will be useful to a minority of students who need this level of in-depth knowledge about evaluation. For others, the level of detail exceeds what they need for the course they are doing and the role they are in at present.

Mrs Ally Lee-Dudley
Training, 4Youth
March 3, 2016

Useful material for those wishing to progress so added to supplemental reading list

Ms Mary Cryan
Supporting Teaching and Learning, Adult Education Centre
October 13, 2015

Kaz Stuart

I have worked in education, social care, outdoor education and youth work as a front line worker, manager and at times, leader. I have encountered the challenge of measurement of progress in all of these settings. The emphasis on impact evidence varied across contexts, but one constant was the need to develop a form of evaluation that; benefitted the young people I worked with, allowed me to stay true to my values as a practitioner, and met the needs of the organisation that I was employed by. I taught  research methods on a Masters programme in Leading Integrated Children’s Services at the University of Cumbria, I was the Head of... More About Author

Lucy Maynard

I’ve worked both nationally and internationally as a practitioner, educator, evaluator and researcher in the area of youth development. My interests in the area are rooted firmly in practice, the foundations of which were laid whilst working in the USA as an experiential educator. My interest in understanding practice more and more led me to study at undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels. In 2011 I completed my PhD in empowerment and critical pedagogy, working with young people and practitioners to understand the process of empowerment in youth development. Now, as the Head of Research at Brathay Trust, I work alongside practitioners... More About Author

Caroline Rouncefield

I originally came to the University of Cumbria with a background in mainstream psychology. However, I have always been interested in young people, the challenges they face and in thinking about how psychology can be used in practical, useful ways to help practitioner understand and support young people. My MSc in Applied Psychology and PhD in Community Psychology allowed me to focus on these interests. For many years I worked with Youth Workers both in training and in the field. I also worked with directly with young people on a range of projects, including diversion projects and youth homelessness.  I currently teach psychology and... More About Author

Purchasing options

Please select a format:

ISBN: 9781446276006
£35.99
ISBN: 9781446275993
£117.00

SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.