Abstract
There are a number of texts currently available on the market that provide broad and comprehensive sources for program evaluation. Despite this widespread availability of texts in general, there is a dearth of quality program evaluation books in criminology and criminal justice specifically. Furthermore, among those that do exist, most of these texts are too broad, extremely dense and overly lengthy, and/or not accompanied by recent and real world examples and applications. In recognition of these issues, I would emphatically have to say that I found Vito and Higgins’ text, Practical Program Evaluation for Criminal Justice, to be a breath of fresh air and a compelling and authoritative text on the topic.
Regarding structure and organization, Vito and Higgins’ text is organized into 10 chapters. Chapter 1, “Getting Started with Program Evaluation,” provides a nice introduction into the topic, delineates the strengths and weaknesses of program evaluation, and focuses on the use of metaanalyses and systematic reviews in the criminological and criminal justice literatures. Chapter 2, “Planning a Program Evaluation,” offers a review of the basic components of a program evaluation and a discussion of potential ethical issues that researchers may confront when performing program evaluations. The next set of five chapters (Chapters 3–7) devote specific attention to the varied forms and types of program evaluations that are commonly used in criminology and criminal justice including needs assessment evaluations (Chapter 3), theory-driven evaluations (Chapter 4), process evaluations (Chapter 5), outcome evaluations (Chapter 6), and cost-efficiency evaluations (Chapter 7). Following a thoughtful and detailed review of the various types of program evaluation methods, Vito and Higgins delve into the germane topic of measurement and conducting data analysis within a program evaluation framework (Chapter 8). With understanding of the important measurement and data analysis issues and options available to potential program evaluators in hand, the next chapter (Chapter 9) offers a user-friendly and accessible guide for how to report results generated from program evaluations and how these results may be used and disseminated. Finally, Vito and Higgins conclude their book with a chapter entitled, “Looking Ahead: A Call to Action in Evaluation Research,” wherein they provide guidance on the relevance of using the best possible research design, how researchers need to be involved in the very beginning (formative stages) of the program evaluation, the necessity of having a cost–benefit analysis as a component of the program evaluation, and how program evaluations can inform evidence-based practices and foster researcher–practitioner partnerships.
Overall, I have little doubt that this particular text will be well received by all, as it is clearly successful in delivering on its proposed purpose and goals. The text is well written and concise, yet at the same time authoritative and illustrative in its examples. In addition, the text is written in a manner that makes it largely accessible and useful for a wide array of audiences including academics, researchers, and practitioners as well as undergraduate and graduate students. It should definitely be on the shelf or better yet on the desk and always open, for any and all of those who want to become versed and ultimately experts in program evaluation in criminology and criminal justice.