NEXT DECADE IN EVALUATION RESEARCH

• NCJ Number: 67440
• Journal: Evaluation and Program Planning Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (1979) Pages: 255-262
• Author(s): H E FREEMAN; M A SOLOMON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: MATERIAL IN THE PAPER PREPARED FOR THE AMERICAN-GERMAN WORKSHOP ON EVALUATION RESEARCH, BERLIN, WEST GERMANY, JUNE 29-30, 1979

Annotation

THE FIELD OF EVALUATION RESEARCH HAS GROWN RAPIDLY AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE 1980'S, BUT SUCH RESEARCH WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY CHANGES IN METHODS AND PROGRAMS.

Abstract

THE 1970'S SAW A REMARKABLE SPURT OF GROWTH IN THE EVALUATION FIELD. THIS GROWTH WAS MARKED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EVALUATION AS A NEW INDUSTRY, THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW PROFESSIONALISM IN THE FIELD, RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EVALUATION BY THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY, QUALITY CONTROL EFFORTS BY WATCHDOG GROUPS, AND EFFORTS TO ADDRESS METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND MAXIMIZE DISSEMINATION OF STUDIES. IN THE FUTURE, THERE WILL BE SHIFTS IN OUTLOOK FOR EVALUATION RESEARCH. INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS WILL DECLINE. THERE WILL BE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MANAGERIAL EVALUATIONS OF OUTGOING PROGRAMS THAN OF TRUE EXPERIMENTS TO TEST NEWLY CREATED VENTURES. EVALUATION WILL SHIFT FROM AN ACADEMIC TO AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SETTING, CONSEQUENTLY INFLUENCING THE WAYS THE FIELD WILL DEVELOP METHODOLOGICALLY. DISCOVERIES IN METHOD WILL BE MORE PRACTICAL THAN BASIC. IN THE FUTURE, CONTINUED FEDERAL FUNDING IN HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE WILL BE DEPENDENT ON DEMONSTRATED PROGRAM IMPACT, AND SUNSET LEGISLATION. THERE WILL BE FEWER IMPORTANT POLICY EVALUATIONS AND MORE ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL EFFORTS. EVALUATION QUESTIONS WILL INCREASINGLY BE SPECIFIED EITHER BY CONGRESS OR THE ADMINISTERING AGENCY, INCLUDING THE SETTING OF DESIGN AND METHODOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDIES. OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTIGATOR-INSPIRED STUDIES AND BASIC METHODOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT WILL DECREASE. THUS, EVALUATION WILL BECOME LESS IDENTIFIED WITH THE GENERAL SOCIAL RESEARCH COMMUNITY. THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF EVALUATION SPECIALISTS MAY SEPARATE THEM FROM THE SOCIAL SCIENTISTS. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS SERIOUS CONSIDERATION AND HAS RELEVANCE FOR GRADUATE TRAINING, THE DIRECTION OF ALL SOCIAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, AND PERHAPS THE VERY LIFE OF ACADEMIC SOCIAL SCIENCE. ONE TABLE AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MJW)