The purpose of evaluation is to determine the effectiveness of a specific action,
countermeasure, or multicomponent program or project. A proper evaluation should
tell you if what you did worked and how effective it was. There are two basic
types of evaluations: administrative or effectiveness.
The administrative
evaluation helps you determine how well the components, process, or resources
of a project performed. For example, were the planned and actual costs of the
project what you expected? Was the project completed in the time planned? Were
all the identified roadside hazards addressed properly?
The effectiveness
evaluation determines the bottom-line results. Did the number and severity
of crashes on a hazardous section of road decrease? Were fewer pedestrians injured
or killed? Were fewer red light violations recorded at intersections with red
light cameras?
An evaluation tells you how well the implemented
solutions worked. It also helps you figure out what worked and what did not and
approaches that might be tried in the future. An evaluation helps build visibility
and support for a project or program and tells supporters that an honest effort
was made and documented so that future efforts can be improved.
The importance
of communicating the results of an evaluation to decision makers and the community
is critical. During the course of a project, several interim evaluations should
be performed to develop additional support and to generate midcourse adjustments.
