EVALUATIVE RESEARCH - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS

• NCJ Number: 15369
• Author(s): E A SUCHMAN
• Date Published: 1967
• Length: 195 pages
• Sale Source: Russell Sage Foundation
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION TECHNIQUES AND CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF EVALUATION, TYPES AND CATEGORIES OF EVALUATION, EVALUATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN, THE MEASUREMENT OF EFFECTS, AND EVALUATION ADMINISTRATION.

Abstract

THE BOOK IS DIVIDED INTO THREE MAIN SECTIONS, REPRESENTING THE CONCEPTUAL, THE METHODOLOGICAL, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF EVALUATION. IT BEGINS WITH A BRIEF HISTORICAL ACCOUNT AND A GENERAL CRITIQUE OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF EVALUATION STUDIES. THE INTRODUCTION IS FOLLOWED BY A CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROCESS, INCLUDING A DISCUSSION OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF OBJECTIVES. THE METHODOLOGICAL SECTION INCLUDES AN ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS RESEARCH DESIGNS APPLICABLE TO EVALUATIVE RESEARCH. THE PLACE OF EVALUATION IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS IS RELATED TO PROGRAM PLANNING, DEMONSTRATION, AND OPERATION. ADMINISTRATIVE RESISTANCE AND BARRIERS TO EVALUATION ARE EXAMINED ALONG WITH THE PROBLEMS IN THE UTILIZATION OF THE FINDINGS. THE BOOK CONCLUDES WITH A BRIEF EXPOSITION ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF EVALUATIVE RESEARCH TO SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION, STRESSING THE POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION WHICH PUBLIC SERVICE AND SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS CAN MAKE TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCE AND SOCIAL CHANGE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)