Evaluation: A Systematic Approach

by Peter H. Rossi, Mark W. Lipsey, Howard E. Freeman

Since Peter H. Rossi, Mark W. Lipsey, and Howard E. Freeman first published Evaluation: A Systematic Approach, more than 100,000 readers have considered it the premier text on how to design, implement, and appraise social programs through evaluation. In this completely revisedSeventh Edition, the authors include the latest techniques and approaches to evaluation as well as guidelines to tailor evaluations to fit programs and social contexts.

Genres: Nonfiction, Research, Textbooks, Social Science, Leadership, Public Policy, Grad School

480 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1979

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been working in evaluation for years and this book was part of my grad program. That being said, I'm not a good person to ask if this is a helpful textbook since it was largely review for me. However, I will say that it is ridiculously redundant. It could have been pruned down to a third its length without sacrificing content. Also, it has a very obvious slant toward quantitative methods - which the authors acknowledge - and that's fine. But they spend like three chapters explaining statistical methods. These chapters are insufficient in themselves to equip anyone to actually conduct the analysis which begs the question of why so much time is spent explaining them at all. And why only those specific statistics. Why not discuss reliability and validity measures? Why not go over the difference between ANOVA and regression? Why not discuss chi square tests of association? Obviously, they were talking exclusively about the value of experimental studies and their ability to inform inferences about "causal" relationships, but it leaves out like 90% of what an evaluator is actually going to be confronted with in the field (and leaves out an awful lot of what an evaluator needs to know to actually analyze data from an experiment to boot). This would definitely not be my first choice of text for a class on evaluation - or at least not on its own.

[Nusrat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This textbook is unnecessarily long and dense. There is a ton of needless repetition and a lack of images and diagrams. It can easily be summarized in less than a 150 pages. The editors need to do a better job of trimming the fat.

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for my doctoral program. This sure covered the bases and was less of a yawn than some other books I read. However, it really grills my cheese when authors cite their own writing numerous times throughout the work. To me it says "hey, I didn't want to do a lot of research for this particular book." If I wanted to read all the stuff from your other periodicals and books, I would be reading those.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as text books go, this one is good. It provides a Summary and Key Concepts at the end of every chapter which is perfect for us non-traditional students who are employed and have families.

THIS CLASS IS OVER~ The book was hardly used - we mostly used journal articles and did a program evaluation as a project.

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are a good many textbooks I have read that I have enjoyed and would willingly edit. There are a good many textbooks that I have not enjoyed and would still be willing to edit to make the reading experience better for other students. There are only but a few textbooks I have loathed and would edit out of sheer spite.
This textbook is so so special because it falls into a wholly new category: textbooks I so despised that I would not even willingly edit it to make the experience better for another student or out of spite. The whole damn thing is simply incomprehensible and WILDLY repetitive. I couldn't do it. I couldn't edit. I wouldn't edit. I would simply rewrite the whole thing. It would be easier, kinder to everyone involved. To Rossi et al., I appreciate the tribute, I really do. I appreciate what you were trying to do. But oh my god.

[Patrick Carlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a textbook Coady said people use for undergrad Program Evaluation. I think it is good in that it explicitly introduces what outcome variables are most important. However, it also treats RCTs as the “gold standard” which means it does not teach to match design to question in the way I would. It also says that programs usually do not work which is a hell of a claim (this was just one quote but it was right in the beginning which sets a tone).

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book for grad school. Completing a program evaluation is interesting, reading a textbook about program evaluation is so incredibly boring. Will be glad to have this one in the rear view mirror. The textbook itself was fine, though I rented from Amazon and I couldn’t see a single chart or graphic in the whole book.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful resource, though incredibly redundant. I passed on most of the examples as they tended to say nothing new. I wanted more info on the stats, and found myself jotting notes of methods and procedures to learn.

[Gwendolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5.

[Natalie]

2018 edition

[Bull]

I am still reading but so far, there is a lot from evaluating programs within the organization to see if programs and project are feasible and achieving objectives. if not evaluation will recommend alternative strategies to help move projects forward.

[Bernadet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it's kind of lame to review your textbooks, but a book is a book right? Anyhoo, this book is amazing. It's clear, minimizes jargon, and is sectioned off in a neat way (definitions for terms are provided at the end of each chapter plus real-life examples). Great book.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

very well laid out and easy to consume. Each chapter begins with key terms and ends with a one or two page bulleted summary. There are also plenty of practical examples and anecdotes to accompany each concept described. An excellent resource.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate school!

As an evaluation book, I suppose it was alright. Not exactly thrilling, but easy to read.

[Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring.

[Jason Waltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beneficial text, easy to read and follow. Definitely contributed to my successful completion of an 18-required-papers class!

[Megan Tosti · Rating 1 out of 5]

*textbook for grad school*

[Olapeju Babatunde]

I think the book will enhance my profession.

[Nakia · Rating 1 out of 5]

For my MPA Evaluation course, Spring 2011.

[Geoffrey]

Textbooks are textbooks.