NCJ Number
54797
Journal
Evaluation and Program Planning Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 195-202
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE 'PREPLANNED' AND THE 'POSTPLANNED' EVALUATION APPROACH ARE COMPARED AND A CHECKLIST IS PRESENTED TO HELP PROGRAM MANAGERS DECIDE WHICH PLAN TO USE.
Abstract
DESPITE THE GROWING INTEREST IN THE USE OF PREPLANNED EVALUATION, THE POSTPLANNED METHOD HAS MANY ADVANTAGES WHICH OFTEN GO UNNOTICED. PREPLANNING, IN WHICH THE EVALUATION IS DEVELOPED BEFORE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES BEGIN, FACILITATES THE COLLECTION OF MORE RELIABLE DATA, AIDS IN THE COLLECTION OF BASELINE DATA (WHICH IS OFTEN UNAVAILABLE IN POSTPLANNED DESIGNS), AND INCREASES INTERNAL VALIDITY. (THAT IS, IT IS EASIER TO ESTABLISH CAUSES AND EFFECTS). THEORETICALLY, THIS APPROACH CAN BE GENERALIZED TO OTHER PROGRAMS (THAT IS, HAVE THE SAME EXTERNAL VALIDITY) AS POSTPLANNED DESIGNS, HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE THE EVALUATION BECOMES PART OF THE COMPLETE FABRIC OF THE PROGRAM LIFE. PREPLANNING MAY ALSO INTERFERE WITH PROGRAM FUNCTIONING AND THE EVALUATION MAY BE PERCEIVED AS A THREAT BY PROGRAM PERSONNEL. THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE THAT A PREPLANNED EVALUATION STRUCTURE MAY INHIBIT FLEXIBILITY. FOR POSTPLANNED DESIGNS, DATA COLLECTION IS LESS COSTLY, DANGER OF INFLUENCING PROGRAM OPERATION IS MINIMAL, AND PERSONNEL ARE NOT AS THREATENED. A TABLE SUMMARIZES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH. SEVERAL CHARTS ILLUSTRATE THESE DIFFERENCES AND A RECEPTIVITY CONTINUUM LISTS CHARACTERISTICS OF STAFF AND MANAGEMENT MOST LIKELY TO COOPERATE WITH EACH MODE. LISTS OF DECISION CRITERIA ARE GIVEN TO HELP MANAGERS PICK THE EVALUATION STYLE MOST LIKELY TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROGRAM'S EVALUATION GOALS. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PROGRAM PERSONNEL AND PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS ARE BOTH CONSIDERED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED.