Procedural steps for designing and implementing an evaluative research using outcome based program evaluation

Skills in the cognitive domains of manufacturing engineering technologists are identified according to Bloom´s Taxonomy (Cronbach, 1983). Skills visible as behavioral outcomes of affect and psychomotor are stated in terms of progress toward the outcome as evidence of changed behavior. Previous researchers in manufacturing engineering have conducted broad based research in desirable skills outlining the specific competencies that are presently needed or will be needed by the year 2000. The professional society of manufacturing engineering called the Society of Manufacturing Engineers has produced a voluminous publication called Profile 2000 and Profile 2002 outlining such research. But these are only inputs to the curriculum. Effectiveness of a curriculum is judged by the outputs-reasonable performance of the program in terms of “behaviors as evidence”. Information gathered from published resources like Journal of Engineering Technology and Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Profile 2000/2002 are used as “input information” from which the outcome statements are generated. They are categorized to a few outlined areas of importance as deemed proper by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. The desirable outcomes as evidence are clear and concise expressions of behaviors that the successful student (as a stakeholder) must demonstrate at the close of his/her program. These are not the competencies required in each area of curricular endeavor because acquiring “competencies” acceptable as evidence does not guarantee that those competencies are used effectively. The administrators and the faculty also must evaluate the program as key stakeholders with the student perception of success. Outcome based program evaluation has the strength of being “interpretive” or “qualitative” as it occurs in social context, and is readily amenable to qualitative study. However the procedural steps outlined in the study are used for quantitative program evaluation by a study of different stakeholder perceptions