INTERPRETING EVALUATION FINDINGS

• NCJ Number: 15379
• Author(s): J R WARMBROD
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT A WORKSHOP ON DEVELOPING PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING ACT PROGRAMS, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, MAY 21, 1970

Annotation

THE EXTENT TO WHICH PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAM PRODUCES THE OBSERVED RESULTS, AND IF THE RESULTS CAN BE GENERALIZED AND APPLIED TO OTHER POPULATIONS, SITUATIONS, MEASURES, AND TIME PERIODS.

Abstract

THE THREE CATEGORIES OF STUDIES ARE DESCRIPTION, CORRELATION, AND CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS. THE RELEVANCE OF AN EVALUATION MUST BE DETERMINED FROM AN EXAMINATION OF THE COMPARISON GROUPS THAT WERE USED (IF ONE WAS USED AT ALL), AND AN EXAMINATION OF ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS OF OBSERVED RESULTS. THESE ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS MAY BE THE RESULT OF SELECTION PROCEDURES, CONCURRENT INFLUENCES, EXCLUSION OF PROGRAM FAILURES IN THE COMPUTATION, NORMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, SUBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES, IMPROVED TEST-TAKING ABILITY THROUGH REPETITION, AND STATISTICAL REGRESSION.