ASSESSING ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTIONS OF EVALUATION (FROM EVALUATION AND EXPERIMENT, 1975, BY C A BENNETT AND A A LUMSDAINE)

• NCJ Number: 36932
• Author(s): A A LUMSDSINE; C A BENNETT
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 29 pages
• Corporate Author: Academic Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A REVIEW AND COMMENTARY ON THE THEMES PRESENTED IN THE 1973 BATTELLE CONFERENCE ON EVALUATION AND EXPERIMENTATION, WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE THEMES FOR PROGRAM EVALUATION.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS NOTE THAT THERE IS ALMOST UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE DESIRABILITY AND IMPORTANCE BOTH OF IMPROVED PROGRAM EVALUATION AND OF IMPROVED UTILIZATION OF EVALUATIVE RESULTS. MAJOR CONCERNS IN THE AREA OF PROGRAM EVALUATION ARE SEEN AS FALLING INTO TWO MAIN CATEGORIES: DETERMINATION OF PROGRAM IMPACT, AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION TO ARRIVE AT DECISIONS OR PROVIDE PROGRAMMATIC FEEDBACK. AFTER DISCUSSING THESE TWO CONCERNS, THE AUTHORS EXAMINE SEVERAL ISSUES AND ASPECTS OF PROGRAM EVALUATION, INCLUDING METHODS FOR DETERMINING IMPACT; THE UTILIZATION OF PILOT PROGRAMS; THE VALUE OF EVALUATION AS A METHOD OF SOCIAL PROGRAM EXPERIMENTATION; THE USE OF COMPARATIVE PROGRAM EVALUATION; THE ROLE OF THE EVALUATOR; AND THE APPLICATIONS OF EVALUATION DATA. SEVERAL METHODOLOGICAL AND/OR POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVALUATION ARE PRESENTED IN THE CONCLUDING SECTION.