Evaluating Large Scale Programs

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject will provide students with an advanced understanding of evaluation theory, methodology and practice. The subject is based, in particular, upon a critical analysis and application of realist, theory-based approaches to evaluating complex, large-scale social interventions.

Subject assessment consists of two tasks (equivalent to 8,000 words). The first task is a conference presentation (35 per cent) with presentations to commence in week 4 and continue throughtout the semester as negotiated with students. The second task is a major research paper of 4,000 words (65 per cent)

NOTE: Assessment for online students with be 25 per cent (Task 1, 65 per cnet (Task 2) plus 10 per cent forum participation.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• understand the nature of multi-site multi-intervention programs;
• be capable of assessing competing evaluation designs for such programs;
• understand the role of program theory approaches to evaluation of large scale programs and be able to use these approaches.

Generic Skills

On completion of this subject, students will:

• understand large scale, complex programs
• have good understanding of complex evaluation issues
• have advanced analytical capacity to understand large scale programs and the organizations involved with these.