The Eastern Iowa Community College District Data Collection Matrix Model: A Tool for Functional Area and Program Evaluation. AIR 1990 Annual Forum Paper.

A matrix model for the collection, management, and utilization of data was developed at Eastern Iowa Community College District, (Davenport, Iowa) for evaluating institutional effectiveness. The model was examined in relation to various assessment instruments and the evaluation of functional areas and programs. Surveys of six different target groups were conducted for each program under review; these groups were: program administrators; part-time faculty; currently enrolled students; graduates of the program during the last three years; program advisory council members; and employers of program graduates. The process of constructing the matrix required a thorough examination of each survey instrument, the identification of items common to the various surveys, and the determination of uniformity in measurement of those various functional areas or components. This resulted in the design of two matrices: the Program Evaluation matrix and the Student Survey matrix. The matrix model facilitated integration of data from a variety of survey instruments into a composite report on any given service or functional area. An additional outcome of the matrix model was that it provided a rationale for the revision of survey instruments. Contains four references. (GLR)