NCJ Number
66130
Date Published
1979
Length
229 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK PRESENTS AND ILLUSTRATES, USING THREE CASE STUDIES, THE APPLICATION OF PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY IN SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED CITIES.
Abstract
THE BOOK IS INTENDED FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF EVALUATION. ITS TWO BASIC GOALS ARE (1) TO PROVIDE METHODOLOGICAL GUIDELINES FOR CITY PLANNERS AND OTHER STAFF ANALYSTS CONDUCTING EVALUATIONS AND (2) TO GENERATE INCREASED AWARENESS AND INTEREST IN EVALUATION BY PROGRAM MANAGERS AND POLICYMAKERS. THE BOOK FOCUSES ON EVALUATING PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS--DETERMINING THE EXTENT TO WHICH A PROGRAM IS ACHIEVING OR FAILING TO ACHIEVE ITS STATED OBJECTIVES. THUS OUTCOMES-ORIENTEDED CRITERIA ARE USED, RATHER THAN PROCESS OR OPERATIONS CRITERIA. AN OVERVIEW OF THE SUGGESTED APPROACH EMPHASIZES THE MAIN CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN DESIGNING A FORMATIVE EVALUATION OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. NEXT, THE SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR STRUCTURING THE PROBLEM IS PRESENTED, TOGETHER WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF EFFECTIVENESS INDICATORS AND DATA SOURCES. ALTERNATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THE THREE CASE STUDIES PRESENTED INCLUDE EVALUATIONS OF THE HARRISBURG, PA., HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM, THE WILLIAMSPORT, PA., TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND THE YORK, PA., CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM. THE BOOK CONCLUDES WITH ATTENTION TO METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND PRACTICAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF LOCAL PROGRAM EVALUATION, DRAWING FROM THE THREE CASE STUDY EXPERIENCES. WAYS IN WHICH EVALUATIONS CAN BE STRENGTHENED, AND THEIR FEASIBILITY, COSTS, AND USEFULNESS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE EXPLORED. FIGURES, TABLES, CHAPTER NOTES, AN INDEX, AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES, AND APPENDIXES PRESENTING THE METHODOLOGY, CASE STUDY INSTRUMENTS, AND RESULTS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)