EVOLUTION OF AN EVALUATION - METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS IN PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL AGE MOTHERS (FROM READINGS IN EVALUATION RESEARCH, 2ND ED., 1977, BY FRANCIS G CARO SEE NCJ-50468)

• NCJ Number: 50479
• Author(s): L V KLERMAN; J F JEKEL; J B CURRIE; I W GABRIELSON; P M SARREL
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Russell Sage Foundation
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, V 63, N 12 (DECEMBER 1973), P 1040-1047

Annotation

MAJOR METHODOLOGICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS FACED IN AN EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MEET THE MEDICAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF PREGNANT TEENAGE GIRLS IN TWO CITIES IN CONNECTICUT ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE COMPROMISES WITH IDEAL DESIGN WHICH HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE IN THE PROCESS OF EVOLVING A WORKABLE RESEARCH DESIGN FOR A COMPLEX ONGOING SERVICE PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR AN UNDERSTANDING OF SUBSEQUENT REPORTS ON STUDY FINDINGS IS PROVIDED. THE FIRST APPLICATION FOR EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAMS FOR TEENAGE MOTHERS IN NEW HAVEN AND HARTFORD, CONN., STATED THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED STUDY AS FOLLOWS: TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THE YOUNG MOTHERS PROGRAM, A HOSPITAL-BASED, COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL, SOCIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, ON CLIENTS' SUBSEQUENT PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS THAT OF THEIR CHILDREN. THE BASIC PROSPECTIVE, LONGITUDINAL, MULTIFACETED, EVALUATIVE CHARACTER OF THE RESEARCH DESIGN WAS MAINTAINED OVER THE SUCCEEDING FOUR YEARS FROM THE START OF THE STUDY IN 1967. IN ATTEMPTING TO MEET THE CRITERIA FOR A VALID EVALUATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN, PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: SAMPLING EQUIVALENT EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL GROUPS; ISOLATION AND CONTROL OF THE STIMULUS; AND DEFINITION AND MEASUREMENT OF THE CRITERIA OF EFFECT. EACH PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED, AND ATTEMPTS AT SOLUTIONS ARE DESCRIBED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT A MECHANISM SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO PREVENT MAJOR CHANGES IN THE PROGRAM WHILE THE STUDY WAS PROCEEDING. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO OBTAIN A TRUE CONTROL GROUP WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE PROGRAM. THE GIRLS, THEREFORE, WERE DIVIDED INTO TWO POPULATIONS, EACH PARTICIPATING IN A PROGRAM WITH A DIFFERENT ORIENTATION. (RCB)