NCJ Number
63825
Editor(s)
H C SCHULBERG,
J M TERRELL
Date Published
1979
Length
159 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK IS A COMPENDIUM OF ARTICLES CONCERNED WITH EVALUATION UTILIZATION AND THE EVALUATOR-MANAGER RELATIONSHIP.
Abstract
AN INTRODUCTION ASSESSES THE PROBLEM OF INSUFFICIENT EVALUATION, ARGUES FOR METAEVALUATION DEVELOPMENT, AND SUMMARIZES THE ARTICLES TO FOLLOW. THE AREA OF PRIMARY CONCERN IS EVALUATION UTILIZATION PRACTICES IN SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, SINCE THESE PRESENT SPECIAL PROBLEMS TO THE EVALUATOR. SEVERAL ESSAYS DEAL WITH THE EVALUATOR-MANAGER DIFFERENCES OF PERSPECTIVE AND PRESCRIBE STRATEGIES FOR EVALUATOR ROLE EFFECTIVENESS. ONE CONTRIBUTOR PRESENTS A MODEL DERIVED FROM ANALYZING A SUCCESSFUL COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN MANAGERS AND EVALUATORS ON A LEGAL REFORM PROJECT. METHODOLOGICAL SUGGESTIONS TO THE EVALUATOR INCLUDE SPECIFYING AN EVALUATION'S PURPOSE AND USING IT AS A MEASURE OF UTILIZATION. A SET OF ARGUMENTS ARE PRESENTED FOR A MORE TECHNOLOGICAL ORIENTATION FOR EVALUATORS TO AVOID PHILOSOPHICAL CONFLICT WITH MANAGERS. A STUDY OF UTILIZATION YIELDS EVIDENCE THAT METHODOLOGICAL PRACTICES AFFECT MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSE TO EVALUATION FINDINGS. THE MANNER IN WHICH AN EVALUATION IS DESIGNED AND CONDUCTED MAY THUS IMPEDE ITS UTILIZATION. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN EVALUATIVE UNDERTAKINGS MAY REDUCE ADMINISTRATION DISREGARD FOR ASSESSMENT-DERIVED CONCLUSIONS. EVALUATION UTILIZATION SEEMS DEPENDENT UPON IMPROVED RELATIONS AND BETTER MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN EVALUATORS AND MANAGERS. CHARTS AND TABLES AND A LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS ARE INCLUDED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH CHAPTER.