NCJ Number
51364
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE POLITICS UNDERLYING EVALUATION RESEARCH ARE DESCRIBED, AND ALTERNATIVES FOR INCREASING THE VISIBILITY AND SCOPE OF SUCH RESEARCH ARE NOTED.
Abstract
RESEARCHERS INVOLVED IN THE EVALUATION OF SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS FACE CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE FACT THAT EVALUATION IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY POLITICAL. POLICY DECISIONS OFTEN HINGE ON WHETHER EVALUATION SHOWS GOOD RESULTS FROM A SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM. EVALUATION HAS ALWAYS HAD EXPLICITLY POLITICAL OVERTONES. IT IS DESIGNED TO YIELD CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE WORTH OF PROGRAMS AND, IN SO DOING, IS INTENDED TO AFFECT THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. THE RATIONALE OF EVALUATION RESEARCH IS THAT IT PROVIDES EVIDENCE ON WHICH TO BASE DECISIONS ABOUT MAINTAINING, INSTITUTIONALIZING, AND EXPANDING SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS AND MODIFYING OR ABANDONING UNSUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. BOTH PROGRAMMING AND EVALUATION ARE NATIONAL IN SCOPE, AND EVALUATION IS NOT LIMITED TO PILOT OR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. THE EXPERIMENTAL MODEL REMAINS THE IDEAL IN EVALUATION METHODOLOGY, WITH THE RANDOM ASSIGNMENT OF SUBJECTS TO AN EXPERIMENTAL GROUP THAT IS EXPOSED TO A PROGRAM STIMULUS OR TO A CONTROL GROUP THAT IS NOT. QUASIEXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS FREE EVALUATION FROM SOME RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO RANDOMIZATION; THEY ARE MORE COMPATIBLE WITH THE PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH EVALUATORS WORK. FUNDING BODIES AND PROGRAM PERSONNEL INFLUENCE THE EVALUATION PROCESS. ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF EVALUATION THAT MINIMIZE POLITICIZATION ARE DESCRIBED, AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF EVALUATION ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF BASIC SOCIAL SCIENCE, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT, PROGRAM STRUCTURE, AND RISK TAKING. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)