A National Survey of Counselors’ Use of Five Types of Program Evaluation

Abstract Evaluation is a critical part of counseling practice. Single case evaluation, needs assessment, formative, outcome, and summative evaluation are used at different points in a program for different questions. Few studies have examined counselors’ evaluation practices and none have compared school, mental health, and other counselors’ use of these five types. In this study we investigate the frequency with which counselors perform evaluation, if evaluation practice differs by type of counselor and type of evaluation, and obstacles to conducting evaluation. A national sample of counselors (n = 911) report that they perform single case and outcome evaluation the most frequently. Their use of single case, formative and summative evaluation, and needs assessment differs by counselor type. Furthermore, counselors report heavy obstacles to evaluation, with lack of time, low administrative support, and funding emerging as key themes. Attitude did not emerge as a major obstacle.