Evaluating the implementation of site-managed educational programs: The relationships of program characteristics and implementation context with level of implementation

Abstract

In this study I proposed a theoretical model of program implementation for evaluators of site-managed educational programs. The model is useful for (a) expanding our understanding of the variables in the implementation of site-managed educational programs, (b) guiding program evaluators in their selection and investigation of variables for studies of program implementation, (c) helping program evaluators interpret findings of their studies, and (d) providing formative evaluation information for program improvement. In the study, I tested the model with structural equation modeling approach.

In this dissertation, I (a) discuss the importance of evaluating program implementation, (b) review the critical program-implementation variables discussed in the literature on school improvement, program implementation, and program evaluation, (c) describe the methods and procedures for building and testing the theoretical model of program implementation, (d) present and discuss the model-testing results, and (e) discuss the implications of the findings for the practice of program evaluation and researches on program evaluation theory.