CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF EVALUATION (FROM ISSUES IN POLICE PATROL - A BOOK OF READINGS, 1973, BY T J SWEENEY AND W ELLINGSWORTH - SEE NCJ-25816)

• NCJ Number: 25829
• Author(s): E SUCHMAN
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 23 pages
• Corporate Author: Kansas City (MO) Police Dept; Police Foundation
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

AN EXAMINATION OF THE KEY DIMENSIONS OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS IN WHICH THE AUTHOR EMPHASIZES THE WEED FOR A CLEAR STATEMENT OF VALUES AND AN ARTICULATION OF OBJECTIVES NECESSARY TO MEASURE GOAL ACHIEVEMENT.

Abstract

THE VARIOUS DEFINITIONS OF EVALUATION, BOTH CONCEPTUAL AND OPERATIONAL ARE FIRST EXAMINED. THE RELATIONSHIP OF EVALUATIVE RESEARCH TO TWO MAIN ELEMENTS IN EVALUATION - VALUES AND OBJECTIVES - IS THEN TRACED. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THERE CAN BE LITTLE QUESTION THAT VALUES PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN DETERMINING THE OBJECTIVES OF PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMS AND THAT ANY EVALUATION STUDY OF THE DESIRABLE AND UNDESIRABLE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PROGRAMS MUST TAKE SOCIAL VALUES, ESPECIALLY CONFLICTING VALUES, INTO ACCOUNT. FINALLY, THE WAYS IN WHICH VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS AFFECT THE FORMULATION OF OBEJCTIVES FOR EVALUATIVE RESEARCH ARE EXAMINED.