I recommend the Splash & Ripple guide as a first introduction to evaluation. This book is an excellent next step. There is a bit of overlap with Splash & Ripple but it provides a much more in depth and fulsome understanding of evaluation. It takes a step back from just looking at outcomes by asking the evaluator to explore program theory; the assumptions and underpinnings of a program.
Rossi, Freeman, & Lipsey (2004) describe program theory as the “plan of operation, the logic that connects its activities to the intended outcomes, and the rationale for why it does what it does.” The book describes in detail the elements of program theory.
- The program impact theory explicates the anticipated impacts of a program and how they will be achieved.
- The utilization plan details how the various program pathways for participants
- Program organizational plan can take the form of a logic model. This is a standard tool in outcomes measurement and includes identifying inputs, outputs, and outcomes.
The book also provides a well-rounded and detailed overview of many other elements of evaluation including measuring outcomes, bias, experimental designs, efficiency, and social context.
Rossi, P. H., Freeman, H. E., & Lipsey, M. W. (2004). Evaluation: A systematic approach (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.