POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DESIGN OF PROGRAM EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 15374
• Author(s): G N BUCHANAN; B F WHITE; J S WHOLEY
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: The Urban Institute
• Sale Source: Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. PAPER PRESENTED TO THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DENVER, SEPTEMBER 1, 1971

Annotation

THE RELATIVELY POOR RECORD OF EVALUATION STUDIES IN THE PAST IS REVIEWED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING EVALUATION IMPACT, SUCH AS EMPHASIS ON RELEVANCE OF EVALUATION RESULTS FOR DECISION-MAKERS, ARE MADE.

Abstract

EVALUATION STUDIES ARE SEEN AS POLITICAL IN THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED TO HELP MAKE POLICY CHANGES. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT IN THE PAST, EVALUATION RESULTS HAVE OFTEN BEEN IGNORED BECAUSE THE STUDIES WERE POORLY DONE OR BECAUSE THE RESULTS WERE NOT OF THE TYPE NEEDED TO HELP MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS. AN ANALYSIS OF THE PLANNING-MANAGEMENT-CONTROL PROCESS TO BE AFFECTED IN THE EVALUATION IS SEEN AS A NECESSARY PART OF THE EVALUATION PLANNING AND DESIGN. THE EVALUATION OF EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS IS THEN DISCUSSED. IN THESE CASES, THE AUTHORS OUTLINE THE EVALUATOR'S ROLE AS PRESERVING THE EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTER OF THE PROGRAM AND DETERMINING AND PROVIDING INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR THE DECISION-MAKER.