809 Evaluation Review
The program review that I chose was a study of the Youth Exchange Program in the United States.
. As their study states its purpose was to evaluate the impact of the Youth
Exchange and Study Program (YES), and assess if it is reaching its goal of
promoting mutual understanding and respect between the people in the United
States and the participating partner countries.
This program was established post 9-11 to provide
scholarships for secondary students age 15-17 specifically from countries with
Muslim populations. This program places these students with families in cities
and towns throughout the United States. Students stay with host families,
attend high school, learn about the American society and values. In turn they
help educate the Americans about their countries, cultures and customs.
This study follows Scriven’s method of evaluation. The goal
of the evaluation was to look at the outcomes of the program and to determine
if they were achieving their targets. Their process they used included a
summative and formative approach and included both qualitative and quantitative
research. The main areas of study were focused on the participant’s satisfaction
with the program, attitudinal changes, learning and understanding, and
behavioral changes.
Data was taken before the students entered the program in a
pre-survey questionnaire. This survey profiled students’ attitudes, opinions,
knowledge, skills and behaviors prior to entering the program. The study then
conducted a post-program questionnaire that measured attitudes, opinions,
knowledge, and behaviors of the participants. Students in the Washington D.C.
area were invited to attend focus groups to discuss their experience and its
impacts on their attitudes, opinions, knowledge, skills and behaviors. All the
participants were then given a follow-up survey one year after they left the
program. This last survey aimed to explore changes still in effect, as well as
attitudes, knowledge, skills and behaviors of the participants.
The results of this study concluded that the participants
learned a great deal about U.S. society, values, and institutions, and view the
U.S. more favorably as a result of the experience. The program strengthened
participants’ beliefs in the importance of individual and civic rights.
Participants gained confidence and leadership skills during the program, and
feel empowered to make changes in their communities. The study also determined
that the overall enthusiasm for the program and its benefits are very high.
The findings of this evaluation gave conclusive data that
proved the goals of the exchange program were being met on all of the tested
areas. This gave validation to the program, which at the time of the study had
been running for six years. The data displaying the strong enthusiasm from the
participants in the program also demonstrated that the program should continue
as the value that the program has for all the stakeholders was still meeting the need of the participants.
Jason this is really interesting program to evaluate. I agree with the application of Scriven with this report. There is solid coverage in regards to data collection which gives ample evidence to base the findings upon. It would be a stronger report if the recommendations were more clearly stated. It would help to put them into action more easily. It would be interesting to have a sense of the political pressures applied to a report such as this.
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