{"id":88,"date":"2015-06-14T19:38:19","date_gmt":"2015-06-14T23:38:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faculty.nipissingu.ca\/rvernescu\/?page_id=88"},"modified":"2023-11-02T19:50:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T23:50:08","slug":"pear","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/faculty.nipissingu.ca\/rvernescu\/certificates\/pear\/","title":{"rendered":"PEAR"},"content":{"rendered":"

I. Applied Research & Program Evaluation<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Applied research in the form of Program Evaluation is a highly sought after set of skills\u00a0across multiple\u00a0professional fields, including\u00a0human\/social services, education, justice, clinical, health, business\/industry, and others.<\/p>\n

In its most basic form, Program Evaluation is the \u201csystematic assessment of the processes and\/or outcomes of a program with the intent of furthering its development and improvement\u201d (UWashington, Office of Educational Assessment, 2005). Program evaluators seek to improve processes and outcomes for (often) ministry-funded programs in the not-for-profit sector. The need for academically prepared evaluators\/applied researchers has been identified by\u00a0ministry and not-for-profit partners. A\u00a0most critical skill-set highlighted as a priority by the human\/social services sector is\u00a0the ability to transform data into information<\/em><\/span>. This requires an ability to think critically and systematically about individual and\/or program data and translate this data into informed decision-making: In other words, engage in evidence-based practices, evidence-based programs, and evidence-based decisions.<\/p>\n

Academic training in\u00a0Program Evaluation and Applied Research will equip undergraduates for careers that require evidence-informed decision-making, program development and evaluation, outcomes- and impact assessment, evidence-informed strategic and operational planning, and other workplace requirements that rely on\u00a0critical thinking and analysis at individual, program, agency, and overall systems levels.<\/p>\n

II. PEAR Certificate<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

While not all graduates with training in Program Evaluation and Applied Research (PEAR)\u00a0will secure positions as program evaluators, this set of skills is valuable in\u00a0various roles and functions, from front-line staff to executive management teams. End-users of Program Evaluation and Applied Research, including front-line staff and decision-making teams, can benefit from the PEAR certificate by becoming knowledgeable about evaluation utilization, which can inform individual and program-level practice, transform agencies\/communities, and most importantly, improve client outcomes. This is particularly critical\u00a0in today\u2019s era of accountability that is\u00a0moving not-for-profit, health, justice, human\/social service sectors from a focus on\u00a0outputs<\/em> as indicators of success to a focus on\u00a0improved outcomes<\/em>\u00a0and impact at the client, program, and agency levels.<\/p>\n

For more information on Program Evaluation and Applied Research please visit:<\/p>\n