While it may be easy to measure program outputs (such as how many people attended program events), it may be more difficult to measure outcomes. And while you may be able to look at someone and observe change over time, how do you really know change has occurred? The goal of validated measurement instruments is to make this somewhat vague or mysterious process more scientific. Tools such as client satisfaction surveys, scales, assessments, and inventories like the Beck Depression Inventory provide specific information with which to measure outcomes.
In this Assignment, you research and select the instruments that you would use for the measurement of your program outcomes.
Review Chapter 9 of the course text to learn about methods for measuring outcomes.
Consider the outcomes that you have crafted for your proposed program and how you might measure the extent to which the program is achieving those outcomes.
Use the Walden Library link in the Learning Resources to explore databases for tests and measures (i.e., instruments) pertaining to your refined outcomes.
Submit a 1- to 2-page paper in which you:
Describe how you would measure the outcomes that you identified in Discussion.
Specifically, identify the two best measurement instruments that you would use and explain why.
Include strengths and limitations, and consider criteria such as usefulness, validity, reliability, precision, feasibility, and cost.
Describe how you would collect the data and what you would expect to learn from it.
Use the Learning Resources and peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles to support your paper. Make sure to include appropriate APA citations and a reference list.
Discussion Post to reference:
The overachieving aim of our proposed program is to help individuals with disabilities find gainful employment. To reach this aim, I have devised several outcomes that will serve as a road map for accomplishing our objectives.
One of the outcomes is an increase in the number of individuals in the local community who are disabled who have a better awareness of the program and the services it provides. To be more specific, one of our aims is to inform people who have disabilities about the objectives of our program’s aim and the variety of services we provide. Some examples of these services include aid with job searches and interview preparation. About the delivery of the performance, we will host informational workshops and hand out posters and pamphlets. As a condition, we must agree to host these sessions at community centres and local libraries. We must also contact community partners to ask for their assistance in spreading the word (Noordink et al., 2021). A minimum attendance rate of 25 participants per session and at least a 20% increase in program engagement from the community are two criteria for determining whether or not an endeavour was successful.
One other outcome will be to increase the number of employment opportunities available to people with disabilities and to improve their employment outcomes. Regarding performance, we will work with local businesses and employers to expand the employment opportunities available to those with impairments (Blonk et al., 2020). One of the conditions is to seek out and form partnerships with organizations dedicated to the employment of people with disabilities and support them (Dudley, 2020). A minimum of 20 job placements per year for program participants is required as one of the success criteria. Participants’ average earnings must be at least 50% higher than in their previous jobs for the program to succeed.
The local community will be more aware of the program attributable to these outcomes, and employment opportunities for people with disabilities will increase. Both of these outcomes will promote our primary goal. We think that if we successfully reach these aims, we will be able to assist people with disabilities in locating both satisfying and sustainable work, which will eventually improve their quality of life.
References
Blonk, L., Huijben, T., Bredewold, F., & Tonkens, E. (2020). Balancing care and work: A case study of recognition in a social enterprise. Disability & Society, 35(6), 972-992.
Dudley, J. R. (2020). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do. Oxford University Press, USA.
Noordink, T., Verharen, L., Schalk, R., van Eck, M., & van Regenmortel, T. (2021). Measuring instruments for empowerment in social work: A scoping review. The British Journal of Social Work, 51(4), 1482-1508. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab054
Resources to use:
Dudley, J. R. (2020). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Chapter 7, “Crafting Goals and Objectives” (pp. 149–168)
Chapter 9, “Is the Intervention Effective?” (pp. 215–250)
Noordink, T., Verharen, L., Shalk, R., van Eck, M., & van Regenmortel, T. (2021). Measuring instruments for empowerment in social work: A scoping reviewLinks to an external site.. The British Journal of Social Work, 51(4), 1482–1508. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab054
Walden University Library. (n.d.). Tests & measuresLinks to an external site.. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/testsmeasures
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