The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University is committed to advancing the theory, practice and utilization of evaluation through research, education, service and leadership.
News
- The Evaluation Center is pleased to announce the latest addition to our Evaluation Checklist collection: Effective Communication Strategies for Interviews and Focus Groups. This checklist presents key concepts to consider when planning and conducting interviews and focus groups. Attending to both verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication in these settings can improve the experience for both data collectors and participants. Visit the Evaluation Checklist website and be sure to take a look at our other checklists while you’re there.
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EvaluATE received $775,000 in supplemental funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand its research activities. EvaluATE, operated by the Western Michigan University (WMU) Evaluation Center, is the evaluation hub for NSF’s Advanced Technological Education program. The additional funding will support partnerships with Larry Mallak and Nolen Akerman from WMU’s Department of Industrial and Entrepreneurial and Engineering Management and Cody Williams and Robert Ruhf from the Science and Math Program Improvement (SAMPI, which is part of located within the Mallinson Institute for Science Education). Mallak and Akerman will work with EvaluATE to use “big data” analytic techniques to mine conventionally collected program evaluation data. Williams and Ruhf will be building on EvaluATE’s 20+ year history of ATE program monitoring to determine the program’s impact on two-year college students.