NCJ Number
66664
Journal
Evaluation Review Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1980) Pages: 193-214
Date Published
1980
Length
22 pages
Annotation
A METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IS DESCRIBED; THE METHOD IS BASED ON DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIDIMENSIONAL PROFILE OF THE PROGRAM AS IT EVOLVES FROM NONIMPLEMENTATION TO FULL IMPLEMENTATION.
Abstract
THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL PROFILE THEN SERVES AS THE BASIS FOR INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT. DATA COLLECTED THROUGH THE INSTRUMENTS LOCATE PROGRAM-USERS BEHAVIOR IN RELATION TO THE DIMENSIONS AND LEVELS OF USE DESCRIBED BY THE PROFILE. THE PROCEDURES WERE DEVELOPED IN RELATION TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM INNOVATIONS, BUT ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SETTINGS WITH SELECTED COMMON FEATURES. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE METHODOLOGY ARE DERIVED FROM ANALYSIS OF THREE CENTRAL ISSUES: THE FUNCTION OF IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION, THE NATURE OF THE PROGRAM, AND THE NATURE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS. THE EVALUATION METHODOLOGY'S FOUR STEPS INCLUDE (1) IDENTIFYING DESCRIPTIVE DIMENSIONS OF THE INNOVATION; (2) SPECIFYING PRACTICES IMPLIED BY THE INNOVATION; (3) DESCRIBING ACTUAL PRACTICES; AND (4) COMPARING ACTUAL PRACTICES WITH INTENDED PRACTICES. THE METHODOLOGY THUS PROVIDES INFORMATION COMPARING INTENDED AND ACTUAL PRACTICES ACROSS CRITICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE INNOVATION. BY INDICATING BOTH CURRENT STATUS AND GROWTH IN THE USE OF THE INNOVATION, THE METHODOLOGY PERFORMS AN IMPORTANT DIAGNOSTIC FUNCTION FOR DEVELOPING IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMBINED WITH DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT OBSTACLES TO IMPLEMENTATION. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES' EFFECTIVENESS CAN BE INDICATED THROUGH MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF THE METHODOLOGY. FIGURES, NOTES, AND A REFERENCE LIST ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)