NCJ Number
16035
Journal
Journal of Social Issues Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: (1970) Pages: 57-68
Date Published
1970
Length
12 pages
Annotation
AS INNOVATIVE SOCIAL PROGRAMMING AND ITS APPRAISAL BECOME MORE LARGE-SCALE IN SCOPE AND VISIBLE TO PUBLIC OPINION, EVALUATORS ARE MEETING GREATER PROBLEMS STEMMING FROM COMPETING POLITICAL PRESSURES AND INTERESTS.
Abstract
PROBLEMS EXACERBATED BY INCREASED PUBLIC VISIBILITY OF PROGRAM EVALUATIONS INCLUDE CRITICISM OF THE EVALUATION METHODOLOGY, RESENTMENT BY PROGRAM PERSONNEL, SPECULATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BASIS OF INSUFFICIENT DATA, AND REQUIRED EVALUATION PROCEDURES SPECIFIED BY FUNDING BODIES. ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS IS THE TENDENCY OF NEGATIVE EVALUATIONS TO STIFLE RATHER THAN IMPROVE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. ONE SOLUTION IS TO PLACE LESS STRESS ON THE EVALUATION OF OVER-ALL IMPACT AND MORE ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIANT CONDITIONS WITHIN PROGRAMS. ANOTHER CIRCUMSTANCE TO AVOID IS PREMATURE EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS AT THE STAGE WHERE THEY ARE STILL LEARNING TO ORGANIZE AND TO PUT CONCEPTS INTO PRACTICE. ANOTHER APPROACH TO EVALUATION IS THE 'SYSTEM MODEL' OF ETZIONI WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN ACHIEVMENT OF THEIR GOALS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)