Once the information from the assessment has been gathered and sorted, the next step is to arrange an assessment report. These reports provide information about the collected data and summarize areas of strengths and areas for improvement. Key data points and explanations of these points are also included in an assessment report.
It is important to be clear and concise when presenting the assessment report. When properly presented, these reports can help to induce change, promote growth, and keep expectations high. If poorly presented, data can be interpreted incorrectly; this could adversely affect the ultimate direction in which the institution wishes to go.
Basic structure of reports:
- Executive Summary – This is a complete description of the assessment as a whole. It can be a one page overview that highlights important and necessary information to the reader.
- Purpose of Assessment – This describes the main motivation for the assessment. It provides clear understanding of the rationale, purpose, direction of assessment and report, and may include some support from literature.
- Methods – This is the process(es) through which the data was collected. Areas covered in this section are methodology, timeline, sampling, instrument used, and data analysis procedures.
- Description of Participants – This identifies the survey participants and the specifics of their situation(s).
- Findings – This contains detailed results of your assessment. This will serve as the “facts” from your data.
- Conclusions/ Implications/ Recommendations – This is the results of the survey, what they mean for the subject being surveyed, and how the findings can be implemented for the better of the institution.
EditData Interpretation
Data interpretation is crucial in that it can essentially push an establishment toward or pull them away from their ultimate vision and mission due to the understanding/misunderstanding of the figures collected. It is important that those involved with the assessment understand the basic aspects of data collection. To understand your data you should:
- Understand how the assessment was measured – Be able to identify different methods of collecting data, identify their pros/cons, distinguish Qualitative and Quantitative data, and understand how they differ.
- Understand what types of questions were asked – Be able to understand which question forms are bias and which are best to obtain a completely honest answer from the subject.
- Understand what was being assessed – One must fully understand the institution/program/activity being assessed and what it hopes to ultimately accomplish.
- Be informed about what the results of the assessment mean and how they will be used – Understand the whole of the data, how it relates with the sample it was taken from, and use the information to move forward and better the initial issue.
EditData-driven decision making
Data driven decision making refers to administrators systematically collecting and analyzing various types of data, including input, process, outcome, and satisfaction data, to guide a range of decisions to help improve the success of an organization, program or activity.
Sources:
RAND Corporation. 2009. Data Driven Decision Making.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2006/RAND_OP170.pdf Retrieved August 31, 2009
EditLinks to budgeting
When an institution/activity/program decides to follow through with an assessment, it is most likely they will have to piece apart and budget their assessment process. In order to be sure they have the capacity to be fully successful in their assessment venture, a budget is important because it allows some security with fiscal flexibility in that they may use funds from one area and redistribute to stabilize.
An effective budget identifies the cost of the proposed action plans, is supported by data from the planning process, is informed by departmental and institutional priorities/constraints, and generates results that are assessed and inform future planning.
 Example Budget Form |
Sources:
http://www.iacbe.org/Integrating_Outcomes_Assessment_and_Strategic_Planning.ppt (p 11-13)
http://uat.okstate.edu/assessment/budget_requests/index.html