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Program & Policy Evaluation

NITE’s Program Evaluation Unit was established in response to the increasing need for evaluation of programs operating in Israel. The unit, which evaluates educational and societal programs, embodies the high standards and professional expertise that are NITE’s trademarks.

Based on clients’ requirements, the unit conducts various types of evaluation research such as:

Outcome evaluation, impact evaluation

This type of evaluation focuses on the outcomes of a program in order to assess the program’s effectiveness and the extent to which it achieved its defined aims and objectives. Outcome evaluation may be performed at the end of a program as part of a summative evaluation with reference to the whole period of the program’s activity, or while the program is still in progress as part of a formative evaluation.

Formative evaluation and process evaluation (program monitoring)

The distinguishing feature of this type of evaluation is that it is conducted during implementation, in order to “fine tune” program development. Formative evaluation assists in identifying the strong points of the program, the challenges it faces and the obstacles preventing it from attaining optimum performance. Thus, changes can be made to program components in order to improve performance and increase effectiveness. It is also possible to investigate to what extent the program’s activity is compatible with the aims and objectives it defined for itself and to refine this activity in accordance with the findings.

Supporting decision makers and policy makers

For clients requesting assistance with determining policy or as part of the decision-making process, the unit will conduct different kinds of surveys of the relevant literature - theoretical surveys, international program surveys, summaries of research results - and provide consultations on various topics.

We use a range of evaluation tools including surveys and questionnaires, observations, structured or semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews and focus groups. We select the appropriate research methods for each project and implement quantitative and qualitative methods and analyses as necessary. The unit’s staff are experienced researchers in the fields of assessment and evaluation from a variety of academic backgrounds.

Our hope is that the evaluation results will be helpful to our clients and their programs. Therefore, we collaborate with clients at every stage of the process to ensure that the evaluation meets their practical needs.

Examples of evaluation projects conducted by the unit

  • Formative assessment of programs of the Future Scientists Center - to advance gifted and outstanding students
  • Evaluation of goal progress - for the Future Scientists Center
  • Evaluation of Kol Zchut, the initiative for making information on rights and entitlements accessible - for JOINT-ELKA
  • Process evaluation of educational programs in East Jerusalem under the auspices of the strategic program for education in East Jerusalem - for RAMA, the National Authority for Measurement and Evaluation in Education
  • Factors influencing middle-school students’ motivation to study math and science - for the Trump Family Foundation
  • Parents’ attitudes and expectations concerning middle school and math and science studies - for the Trump Family Foundation
  • Factors facilitating high performance by students in PISA 2015 in Israel - for the Trump Family Foundation
  • Features of math instruction in post-elementary education in selected countries - for the Trump Family Foundation
  • Evaluation of World ORT-Kadima Mada’s Mentors for 5 program

 

Contact us:

Hagar Lerman, Director of Program Evaluation Unit
Telephone: 02-6759595
Email: hagar@nite.org.il, eval@nite.org.il