NCJ Number
67317
Date Published
1980
Length
208 pages
Annotation
EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT IS A PROCESS USED INCREASINGLY BY U.S. AND CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS TO DOCUMENT PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, PERFORMANCE, AND INFORMATION, ESTIMATE PROGRESS, AND IDENTIFY NEEDED CHANGES.
Abstract
KNOW AS EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT, EXPLORATORY EVALUATION, OR ACCOUNTABILITY ASSESSMENT, THIS PROCESS IS USED TO ANALYZE A PROGRAM'S LOGIC AND OPERATIONS AND TO IDENTIFY PROGRAM DESIGN OPTIONS. THIS TEXT DESCRIBES EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT AND IT APPLICATION; IN THE INITIAL CHAPTER, EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT IS PROPOSED AS A MEANS OF INCREASING THE TECHNICAL CREDIBILITY AND USEFULNESS OF PROGRAM EVALUATIONS. FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE EVALUABILITY OF PROGRAMS--I.E., THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROGRAM CAN BE EVALUATED FOR ITS EFFECTIVENESS--ARE DISCUSSED ALSO. THE CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING WHICH PROGRAM COMPONENTS AND GOALS/EFFECTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROGRAM EVALUATION ARE WELL-DEFINED PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN A PRESCRIBED MANNER, CLEARLY SPECIFIED GOALS AND EFFECTS, AND PLAUSIBLE CAUSAL LINKAGES BETWEEN PROGRAM COMPONENTS AND EFFECTS. THE FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS IS USED TO DETERMINE WHICH PROGRAM COMPONENTS AND GOALS/EFFECTS COULD APPROPRIATELY AND REASONABLY BE EXAMINED. AN OVERRIDING CONSIDERATION IS THE PURPOSE FOR CONDUCTING THE EVALUATION. FEASIBILITY FACTORS INCLUDE PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION, RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, AND SEVERITY OF THE CONSTRAINTS--COSTS, POLITICAL, LEGAL, ETHICAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE. ANOTHER CHAPTER PRESENTS THE EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROGRAM MODEL WITH A LIST OF PROGRAM COMPONENTS AND GOALS/EFFECTS AND A FLOW MODEL DEPICTING THE PROGRAM'S STRUCTURE, EXPLAINING THE ASSESSMENT, AND OBTAINING THE PROGRAM MANAGER'S VIEW OF THE PROGRAM. DIRECTIONS FOR ANALYZING THE FACTORS AFFECTING PROGRAM EVALUABILITY ARE ALSO PRESENTED. FACTORS THAT MIGHT HINDER EVALUABILITY ARE DISCUSSED, AND VARIOUS STRATEGIES ARE PRESENTED FOR ENHANCING PROGRAM EVALUABILITY BY CHANGING PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION, DEVELOPING NEEDED METHODOLOGY, AND REMOVING CONSTRAINTS. A FINAL CHAPTER DISCUSSES PROSPECTS AND ISSUES CONCERNING THE USE OF THE EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR EVALUATION PLANNING. TABULAR DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE GIVEN. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH CHAPTER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--AOP)