Question 1

Which of the following describes the concepts and procedures necessary for a criminal justice program evaluator to examine the conceptualization of a program?
A) Evaluability assessment
B) Program theory
C) Impact theory
D) Service utilization plan

Accepted Answer

Program theory refers to the concepts and procedures necessary for a criminal justice program evaluator to examine the conceptualization of a program, including its underlying assumptions, goals, and intended outcomes. Evaluability assessment focuses on determining whether a program is suitable for evaluation, impact theory examines how the program produces change, and service utilization plan refers to an organization's plan to provide services to its clients.

Question 2

Which of the following is a method of identifying and describing the program theory by outlining its components and deciphering which of them is measurable?
A) Evaluability assessment
B) Program theory
C) Impact theory
D) Service utilization plan

Accepted Answer

Evaluability assessment is a method used to identify and describe the program theory by outlining its components and deciphering which of them is measurable. This process involves breaking down the program into its components, specifying how the components are expected to work together to achieve the desired outcomes, and identifying the most important performance indicators.

Question 3

Which of the following provides information about the change process and the change in the conditions?
A) Evaluability assessment
B) Program theory
C) Impact theory
D) Service utilization plan

Accepted Answer

C

Question 4

Which of the following is vital to a theory-driven evaluation because it contains the assumptions and expectations for reaching the target population?
A) Evaluability assessment
B) Program theory
C) Impact theory
D) Service utilization plan

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is vital to...

Question 5

Which of the following provides a schematic as to how the program resources, personnel, administration, and general organization are composed and utilized?
A) Organizational plan
B) Program theory
C) Impact theory
D) Service utilization plan

Accepted Answer

An organizational plan provides a schematic as to how the program resources, personnel, administration, and general organization are composed and utilized. Program theory explains how and why a program is expected to work, while impact theory explains the intended outcomes and effects of a program. A service utilization plan outlines how services will be delivered and utilized.

Question 6

Which of the following is part of an implicit program theory and is contingent on the scope of the program and the scope of the program staff's concerns?
A) Explicate program theory
B) Program goals and objectives
C) Program functions
D) Define boundaries

Accepted Answer

Defining boundaries is an important part of implicit program theory as it helps to establish the scope of the program and the concerns of program staff. This is necessary in order to effectively design and implement the program. Explicating program theory, program goals and objectives, and program functions are all important components of explicit program theory, which is a more formal and structured approach to program design and evaluation.

Question 7

Which of the following is part of an implicit program theory and means that the evaluator has to work with stakeholders to bring out the conclusions that come from their actions and assumptions?
A) Explicate program theory
B) Program goals and objectives
C) Program functions
D) Define boundaries

Accepted Answer

Explicate program theory involves working with stakeholders to unpack and clarify underlying assumptions and theories about a program. It includes identifying the cause-and-effect relationships that underlie the program's logic model, and this process involves engaging stakeholders to ensure a shared understanding of the program's goals, functions, and boundaries. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. Options B, C, and D are all important components of program evaluation, but they are not specifically related to explicate program theory.

Question 8

Which of the following is part of an implicit program theory and helps provide an understanding of what the program should be accomplishing?
A) Explicate program theory
B) Program goals and objectives
C) Program functions
D) Define boundaries

Accepted Answer

Program goals and objectives are part of an implicit program theory and provide an understanding of what the program should be accomplishing. They help to clarify the intended outcomes of the program and guide program design and implementation.

Question 9

Which of the following is part of an implicit program theory and makes sure that everything that a program does is included in its description?
A) Explicate program theory
B) Program goals and objectives
C) Program functions
D) Define boundaries

Accepted Answer

Program functions are part of an implicit program theory, ensuring that all activities and operations of a program are included in its description. This encompasses the various tasks, processes, and actions the program undertakes to achieve its objectives.

Question 10

The possibility that program goals and objectives can be met is known as:
A) Feasibility
B) Rationality
C) Measurability
D) Coherence

Accepted Answer

Feasibility refers to the possibility or likelihood of achieving program goals and objectives.

Question 11

Program objectives do not need to be clearly specified or be measurable from the start.

Accepted Answer

Program objectives should be clearly specified and measurable from the start in order to determine if the program is successful and to make necessary adjustments.

Question 12

Without using program theory, the evaluation is only able to determine if the program met narrowly defined goals rather than satisfied theoretical implications.

Accepted Answer

Without program theory, the evaluation is typically limited to assessing whether the program achieved specific goals rather than exploring the underlying principles and assumptions that guided the program's design and implementation. Program theory enables evaluators to identify the key components of a program, the intended pathways of change, and the conditions necessary to produce expected outcomes. Without this framework, evaluations may miss important nuances and fail to uncover unexpected impacts, unintended consequences, or implementation challenges that can illuminate opportunities for program improvement.

Question 13

The impact theory may be simple, complex, formal, or informal, but the end result should be that change occurred.

Accepted Answer

The impact theory focuses on creating change, regardless of the complexity or formality of the approach. Therefore, the end result should always be that change occurred.

Question 14

The most basic form of program impact theory takes place in four stages.

Accepted Answer

The most basic form of program impact theory typically involves three stages: inputs, processes, and outcomes.

Question 15

The key to representing any program impact theory is that each part of the program will have a cause-and-effect feature.

Accepted Answer

Each part of the program is expected to have a clearly defined cause-and-effect relationship, which is essential for representing the program's impact theory.

Question 16

Program goals and objectives are secondary aspects of program theory.

Accepted Answer

Program goals and objectives are primary aspects of program theory, as they define what the program aims to achieve and guide the development of strategies and activities to meet those aims.

Question 17

When program theory and social needs are described in general terms, the evaluator may have a false sense of congruence.

Accepted Answer

The evaluator may think that the program theory is addressing the social needs, when in fact there may be gaps or misalignments between the two. Without detailed analysis and evaluation, the congruence between program theory and social needs cannot be assumed.

Question 18

Extracting and espousing the program theory will ignore the major assumptions and expectations of the program's design.

Accepted Answer

Extracting and espousing the program theory involves identifying, clarifying, and making explicit the underlying assumptions and expectations of the program's design.

Question 19

A necessary function in assessing a program's theory is to articulate its concepts, assumptions, and expectations.

Accepted Answer

articulating a program's concepts, assumptions, and expectations is essential to properly evaluate its theory.

Question 20

The validity of the program theory is the ability of the causal logic of the program to produce intended effects.

Accepted Answer

The validity of the program theory is directly related to its ability to produce the intended effects through the causal logic of the program. This is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of a program and determining its impact.

Quiz 4: Theory-Driven Evaluation

Which of the following describes the concepts and procedures necessary for a criminal justice program evaluator to examine the conceptualization of a program?

Which of the following is a method of identifying and describing the program theory by outlining its components and deciphering which of them is measurable?

Which of the following provides information about the change process and the change in the conditions?

Which of the following is vital to a theory-driven evaluation because it contains the assumptions and expectations for reaching the target population?

Which of the following provides a schematic as to how the program resources, personnel, administration, and general organization are composed and utilized?

Which of the following is part of an implicit program theory and is contingent on the scope of the program and the scope of the program staff's concerns?

Which of the following is part of an implicit program theory and means that the evaluator has to work with stakeholders to bring out the conclusions that come from their actions and assumptions?

Which of the following is part of an implicit program theory and helps provide an understanding of what the program should be accomplishing?

Which of the following is part of an implicit program theory and makes sure that everything that a program does is included in its description?

The possibility that program goals and objectives can be met is known as: