NCJ Number
69343
Date Published
1978
Length
207 pages
Annotation
THIS INTRODUCTION TO EVALUATION RESEARCH IN THE DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE METHODOLOGY AND CASE STUDIES, AND A DISCUSSION OF APPLIED RESEARCH PROBLEMS.
Abstract
EVALUATION RESEARCH IS A VALUABLE TOOL TO SCHOLARS, DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS, AND PRACTITIONERS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A PROGRAM IN A PARTICULAR FIELD (E.G., HEALTH, EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, OR FAMILY PLANNING) ACCOMPLISHED THE DESIGNED GOAL. THE BASIC METHODOLOGY OF EVALUATION RESEARCH IS PRESENTED, EMPHASIZING IMPACT HYPOTHESES, PLAUSIBLE RIVAL HYPOTHESES, DESIGNS, MEASUREMENT CONCERNS, DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES, AND DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES. SEVERAL CONCRETE CASE STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THE USE OF EVALUATION RESEARCH IN THE DEVELOPMENT FIELD. THE SMALLPOX ERADICATION PROGRAM OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SHOWS HOW EVALUATION RESEARCH METHODOLOGY RULES OUT RIVAL EXPLANATIONS OF THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE USE OF TIME SERIES DATA. THE INDONESIAN GREEN REVOLUTION RICE PROGRAM AND RICE PROGRAMS IN BURMA AND THAILAND ARE ANALYZED AS NONEQUIVALENT CONTROL GROUP CASES. A REPORT OF THE PLAZA SESAMO IN MEXICO PROVIDES AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE USE OF THE CLASSICAL EXPERIMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT FIELD. IN ADDITION, A DISCUSSION OF APPLIED RESEARCH PROBLEMS EMPHASIZES IMPACT HYPOTHESES, MEASUREMENT CONCERNS, DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES, DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES, ETHICAL CONCERNS, ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS, AND EVALUATION RESEARCH DESIGNS. A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF RESEARCH UTILIZATION PROBLEMS IS ALSO PRESENTED, WHERE PROBLEMS FACING POLICY-MAKERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT FIELD ARE IDENTIFIED. THE BOOK INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 268 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES AND SEVERAL CHARTS AND GRAPHS. (RJJ)