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Answer – 3
INTRODUCTION
“Policy Evaluation assesses the effectiveness of a public policy in terms of its perceived intentions and results.”
Policy evaluation is thus concerned with assessing what actually happened as a result of policy implementation.
It asks questions whether the purposes of the policy were met and how implementation could be improved.
After a policy has been evaluated, the problem and solutions it involves may be rethought completely.
Evaluation is essentially an arena of methodological concern, which is closely associated with traditional social
science research but having some differences. Although evaluation utilizes most of the methodologies used in
traditional social science research, it often takes place within the realm of political and organizational context. It
requires group skills, management ability, political maneuvers, sensitivity to multiple stakeholders and other
skills that social science research in general does not rely on as much
It can also be said that policy evaluation uses a range of research methods to systematically investigate the
effectiveness of policy interventions, implementation and processes, and to determine their merit, worth, or
value in terms of improving the social and economic conditions of different stakeholders. In fact, the range
research method occupies a place of paramount importance in the evaluation process. Policy evaluation uses
quantitative and qualitative methods, experimental and non-experimental designs, descriptive and experiential
methods, theory based approaches, research synthesis methods, and economic evaluation methods. It privileges
no single method of inquiry and acknowledges the complementary potential of different research methods.
DEFINITION
Rossi, Freeman and Lipsey- A family of research methods which seeks “to systematically investigate the
effectiveness of social interventions… in ways that improve social conditions.
Scriven- “The process of determining the merit, worth, or value of something, or the product of that process.”
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While Tyler - “A process of determining to what extent the aims and the objectives of an ongoing program or
project have been attained” others see it as application of “rigorous social science methods for the study of
project and programs or to the comparative nature of the process – comparing the relative cost and benefit of
several programs.
Policy Evaluation:
Policy Evaluation uses a range of research methods to systematically investigate the effectiveness of policy
interventions, implementation and processes, and to determine their merit, worth, or value in terms of
improving the social and economic conditions of different stakeholders. In fact, the range research method
occupies a place of paramount importance in the evaluation process. Policy evaluation uses quantitative and
qualitative methods, experimental and non-experimental designs, descriptive and experiential methods, theory
based approaches, research synthesis methods, and economic evaluation methods. The methods used in policy
evaluation and analysis are usually driven by the substantive issues at hand rather than a priori preferences. ). It
is often assumed that if the legislature passes a law and appropriates money for a particular purpose, and if the
executive branch implements the program and spends money to carry out the activities mandated by the law,
then the effects of the law will be felt by society and will be those intended by the legislature so, policy
evaluation can be understood as learning about the effects, if any of public policy, and trying to determine
whether these effects are worth the cost of the policy.
NEED FOR POLICY EVALUATION
All governments around the world carry out their governance functions through some policies and programs.
In fact, there exist many policies, programs and interventions which are designed and implemented to
improve the conditions of the people or promote general societal welfare. But how do we know whether
these policies/programs are working? If they are not effective, and even if they are, how can we improve
them to make them better? And finally, how can an organization make intelligent choices about which
promising programs are likely to work best in people’s interest.
It is the evaluation of specific policies and programs which helps us design or improve the design of policies,
programs and initiatives; and provides, where appropriate, periodic assessments of policy or program
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effectiveness, of impacts both intended and unintended, and of alternative ways of achieving expected
results. In short, policy or program evaluations are carried out because it enables us
• To make an appraisal of the content of policy and its effects. It is concerned with assessing what actually
happened as a result of the policy created and implemented.
• To ascertain whether the purposes of the policy were met and how implementation might be improved.
• In some cases, evaluation is carried out with a view to taking a decision whether the policies need to be
changed or even abandoned.
Importance of improving implementation Policy Evaluation so that it can contribue to governance and
development:
Policy Evaluation is the evaluation of specific policies and programs which helps us design or improve the
design of policies, programs and initiatives; and provides, where appropriate, periodic assessments of policy or
program effectiveness, of impacts both intended and unintended, and of alternative ways of achieving expected
results. In short, policy or program evaluations are carried out because it enables us –
To make an appraisal of the content of policy and its effects. It is concerned with assessing what actually
happened
as a result of the policy created and implemented.
To ascertain whether the purposes of the policy were met and how implementation might be improved?
In some cases, evaluation is carried out with a view to taking a decision whether the policies need to be changed
or even abandoned?
Policy Evaluation helps us to improve policy implementation as it helps to :
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Improve delivery mechanisms to be more efficient and less costly. Over a period of time, product or
service delivery ends up to be an inefficient collection of activities that are less efficient and more
costly than need be. Evaluations can identify program strengths and weaknesses to improve the
program.
Verifying that the program is really running as originally planned.
Facilitate management’s real thinking about what their program is all about, including its goals, how it
meets its goals and how it will know if it has met its goals or not.
Produce data or verify results that can be used for public relations and promoting services.
Produce valid comparisons between Policy Programs to decide which should be retained, i.e. in the
face of pending budget cuts.
Fully examine and describe effective programs for duplication elsewhere.
Understand, verify or increase the impact of products or services on customers or clients. These
evaluations are increasingly required by nonprofit funding organizations as verification to ensure that
the non-profits are indeed helping their constituents. Too often, service providers (for-profit or
nonprofit) rely on their own instincts and passions to conclude what their customers or clients really
need and whether the products or services are providing what is needed. Over time, these organizations
find themselves indulging in a lot of guessing about what would be a good product or service, and trial
and error about how new products or services could be delivered.
From the above point which have been illustrated above we can assese the importance of improving the
quality of policy implementation which can be done by improving its conceptualization, research methods,
and by simplifying the problem stated, by presenting data and argumentation in simlified form. So, from
the above beneficial thing which has been mentioned thing will in application if we focuss on the
improvent of Policy implementation;
CONCLUSION:
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From the above answer we can conclude that Policy Evaluation plays an important role in determing the
policy as it involves assessment of the effectiveness of a public policy in terms of its perceived intentions
and results as Policy Evaluation involves uses a range of research methods to systematically investigate the
effectiveness of policy interventions, implementation and processes, and to determine their merit, worth, or
value in terms of improving the social and economic conditions of different stakeholders . Policy
Evaluation is very helpful to everyone in every field such as Governments private companies and today in
modern era there is variety and complex problem trouble in governance so importance of Policy evaluation
can’t be ignored. So from the above beneficial factors which can be derived from improving the
implementation process can’t be ignored
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