NCJ Number
44351
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
TYPES OF PROGRAM EVALUATION AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS SERVICES PROJECTS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING AN EVALUATION DESIGN AND FOR USING EVALUATION INFORMATION ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
AN EVALUATOR USUALLY IS INTERESTED IN THREE DIMENSIONS OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES: QUANTITY; TIMELINESS; AND COST. AN EFFECTIVE OUTCOME EVALUATION FOCUSES ON A MEANINGFUL MEASURE OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS AND LINKS THAT MEASURE TO THE PROGRAM OR TO VARIOUS TYPES OF STRATEGIES USED BY THE PROGRAM. THE PROCESS EVALUATION MEASURES PROJECT PERFORMANCE BY FOCUSING ON THE PROJECT'S ACTIVITIES. EVALUATION IS A TOOL TO BE USED BY PROJECT DIRECTORS IN IMPROVING THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM, IN DETERMINING WHETHER AN EXPANDED PROGRAM IS CALLED FOR, IN JUSTIFYING CONTINUED FUNDING OF ACTIVITIES, AND IN MAKING OTHER DECISIONS. THE TYPE OF EVALUATION USED BY A PROGRAM DEPENDS ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE OF THE PROGRAM AND ON HOW THE INFORMATION IS TO BE USED. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR SHOULD ASSURE THAT THE PROJECT IS OPERATED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CAN BE EVALUATED. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH STANDARDS SHOULD BE USED TO JUDGE THE QUALITY OF THE EVIDENCE IN AN EVALUATION AND THE ACCURACY OF EVALUATION CONCLUSIONS. METHODS AND MEASUREMENT TOOLS IN AN EVALUATION SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SITUATION AND CONDITIONS IN WHICH THEY WILL BE USED. EVALUATION DESIGNS SHOULD AVOID TECHNICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL WEAKNESSES AS WELL AS OVERSOPHISTICATION. PROJECT DIRECTORS SHOULD SOLICIT AN EVALUATION DESIGN OR PROPOSAL FROM PROSPECTIVE EVALUATORS THAT INCLUDES A STATEMENT OF THE QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED, THE TYPES OF INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED, THE METHODOLOGY, THE DATA ELEMENTS TO BE COLLECTED, AND COST AND TIME FACTORS.