NCJ Number
34498
Date Published
1976
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER LISTS AND DESCRIBES THE KEY ELEMENTS OF A WORKING MODEL FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAM EVALUATIONS AND ILLUSTRATES AREAS IN WHICH COOPERATION BETWEEN PROGRAM PLANNERS AND EVALUATION RESEARCHERS IS NEEDED.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT PROGRAM EVALUATIONS HAVE OFTEN BEEN HAMPERED BY A LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THOSE WHO IMPLEMENT AND OPERATE PROGRAMS AND THOSE WHO EVALUATE THEM. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IMPROVED MODELS FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN PROGRAM OPERATORS AND RESEARCHERS ARE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT EVALUATION IS INCORPORATED IN THE PROGRAM EFFORT. SUCH COLLABORATION, THE AUTHOR STATES, IS BEST UNDERTAKEN BEFORE THE NEW PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED. THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE EVALUATION MODEL ARE THEN DISCUSSED. THESE INCLUDE 1) AGREEMENT ON PROJECT GOALS, 2) DEFINITION OF A TARGET POPULATION, 3) THEORETICAL STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM, 4) DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERVENTION STRATEGY, 5) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESEARCH STRATEGY, AND 6) ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS. THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF ALL THE ABOVE ELEMENTS ARE STRESSED, AND EXAMPLES OF HOW CHANGES IN ONE ELEMENT MAY AFFECT THE DESIGN OF THE NEXT ARE PROVIDED. IN ADDITION, KEY QUESTIONS WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED AT EACH STAGE OF THE EVALUATION ARE PRESENTED.