NCJ Number
50225
Journal
EVALUATION Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (1973) Pages: 3-6
Date Published
1973
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE DATABANK OF PROGRAM EVALUATIONS (DOPE), BEGAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES IN 1972, IS DESCRIBED WITH RESPECT TO ITS USE IN A MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM.
Abstract
PROGRAM EVALUATION REQUIRES THE IDENTIFICATION OF INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE BEING EVALUATED AND TO CLASSIFY THEM IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PROVIDE A BRIEF BUT ACCURATE SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAM, HOW THE EVALUATION WAS PERFORMED, AND WHAT RESULTS WERE OBTAINED. IT IS THE GOAL OF DOPE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF MAJOR PROGRAM ISSUES AND THEIR BENEFITS TO CONSUMERS. THREE SEARCH MODES HAVE BEEN INITIATED TO IDENTIFY EVALUATION REPORTS. THE FIRST IS A REVIEW OF 100 PRESUMABLY HIGH-YIELD JOURNALS; THE SECOND IS DIRECT MAIL CONTACT WITH SELECTED EXPERT PROFESSIONALS IN VARIOUS TOPIC AREAS; THE THIRD IS AN EXTENDED SEARCH OF PUBLISHED MATERIALS AVAILABLE THROUGH EXISTING DATABANKS. IN DEFINING A 'HIT' FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES, THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM AREAS HAVE BEEN SPECIFIED FOR STUDY: ALCOHOL ABUSE, DIVORCE, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, NEUROSES, SEXUAL DEVIANCY, SUICIDE, WELFARE, HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES, CRIMINALITY, DRUG ABUSE, MENTAL RETARDATION, PSYCHOSES, SOCIOCULTURAL PROBLEMS, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND MENTAL PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY. PROGRAM OUTCOMES ARE BEST MEASURED AGAINST STATEMENTS OF OBJECTIVES PROVIDED BY PROGRAM ORIGINATORS. IN ADDITION TO THE STATUS OF PROGRAM SUCCESS, DOPE PROVIDES OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT EVALUATION REPORTS: CONDITION TREATED; AGE, SEX, RACE, AND INCOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAMPLE POPULATION; SAMPLE SIZE; SITE; TREATMENT METHOD; CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDY DESIGN; WHAT IS MEASURED; WHAT MEASURES ARE USED; HOW DATA ARE COLLECTED; AND CONCLUSIONS. A SAMPLE PRINTOUT OF AN EVALUATION REPORT CONTAINED IN DOPE IS INCLUDED.