Collaborative Program Development and Evaluation

Abstract

This is a story of collaboration between program developers and an evaluator to support the design of the Conflict Resolution in Schools Programs (CRiSP) community initiative. We discuss a variety of evaluation techniques useful in program development to illustrate the benefits of a collaborative approach. The formative stages of the initiative included needs assessment and traditional literature review, followed by the design, implementation, and monitoring of pilot programs. Based on the questions that emerged in the formative research, we launched a comprehensive meta-analysis of conflict resolution education programs to guide the future efforts of the CRiSP initiative. We describe the stages of CRiSP research to date and present highlights of the results from the first two years of formative work and evaluability assessment. Preliminary results of the meta-analysis that describe the predominant characteristics of thirty conflict management programs in primary and secondary schools are also included.

Key Words:

• Collaboration
• conflict resolution in schools
• meta-analysis