NCJ Number
18351
Date Published
1973
Length
20 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A SURVEY IN WHICH 43 STATES AND TWO TERRITORIES RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS ON THE EXTENT, NATURE, AND TYPE OF EVALUATIONS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS IN THEIR STATE.
Abstract
STATES WERE FIRST ASKED IF THEY MAINTAINED ANY ORGANIZATIONAL UNITS THAT HAVE THE EXPLICIT TASK OF DOING PROGRAM EVALUATION AND HAVE FULL-TIME STAFF ASSIGNED TO IT. FIFTY-THREE PERCENT OF THE RESPONDING STATES INDICATED THAT THEY DID HAVE SUCH UNITS. AGENCIES FOR WHICH STAFFING EXISTS SPECIFICALLY FOR EVALUATION ARE ALSO INDICATED. QUESTIONS WERE THEN PROVIDED CONCERNING THE NUMBER AND SUBJECT OF PROGRAM EVALUATIONS UNDERTAKEN SINCE JUNE 1970. FORTY-FIVE PERCENT STATED THAT SUCH EVALUATIONS HAD TAKEN PLACE. INFORMATION WAS ALSO SOLICITED ON THE TYPE OF PERSONNEL CONDUCTING THE EVALUATIONS, THE EXISTENCE OF FORMAL TRAINING COURSES ON PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND THE AMOUNT OF PROGRAM EVALUATION BEING CONDUCTED. FINALLY, TWO OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE NATURE OF PROGRAM EVALUATIONS BEING CONDUCTED AND NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS IN PROGRAM EVALUATION WERE INCLUDED. EXCERPTS OF THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS PROVIDED BY THE VARIOUS STATES ARE PRESENTED.