Evaluating Monitoring Programs

Discussion Part I

While designing a monitoring plan for your program or policy, if you discovered that different techniques for monitoring the implementation of the program or policy produced conflicting results, how would you reach an effective monitoring plan?

Consider that the observation data monitoring technique suggests that, on average, staff members spend 1 hour per week on teaching life-skills to clients as the program intended, but the service record data monitoring technique suggests that staff spends 15 minutes on average teaching life-skills to clients, against the program’s intentions. What do you think could account for the discrepancy between different monitoring techniques?

Discussion Part II

Among the different observational data collection techniques—narrative, data, and structured rating scheme, which technique do you consider to be the strongest approach? Which technique do you think is the weakest? Explain your rationale.

Is it advisable to combine two or more observational data collection techniques? Are there any advantages to combining techniques? Are there any disadvantages to combining techniques? Discuss.