title: Qualitative cost-benefit evaluation of complex, emergent programs.
abstract: This paper discusses a methodology used for a qualitative cost-benefit evaluation of a complex, emergent program. Complex, emergent programs, where implementation varies considerably over time and across sites to respond to local needs and opportunities, present challenges to conventional methods for cost-benefit evaluation. Such programs are characterized by: ill-defined boundaries of what constitutes the intervention, and hence the resources used; non-standardized procedures; differing short-term outcomes across projects, even within the same long-term goals; and outcomes that are the result of multiple factors and co-production, making counter-factual approaches to attribution inadequate and the use of standardized outcome measures problematic. The paper discusses the advantages and limitations of this method and its implications for cost-benefit evaluation of complex programs.
authors.affiliation: CIRCLE (Collaboration for Interdisciplinary Research, Consulting and Learning in Evaluation), Building 15, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, 124 Latrobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia. Patricia.Rogers@rmit.edu.au
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Kaye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boymal
mesh_terms: D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D016730:Program Development / Q000191:economics*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods