NCJ Number
62493
Journal
Evaluation and Program Planning Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 111-115
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE ROLES OF THE EVALUATOR AS RESEARCHER, INNOVATOR, AND POLITICIAN-ADMINISTRATOR ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IF EVALUATORS ARE TO IMPLEMENT THE METHODOLOGY OF A TRUE EXPERIMENT IN THE EVALUATION OF A SOCIAL PROGRAM, THEY MUST HAVE SUFFICIENT CONTROL OVER THE PROGRAM'S OPERATION DURING EVALUATION. THE EVALUATOR CAN ACT AS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR OR ESTABLISH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR ASSURING ADHERENCE TO PROCEDURES ESSENTIAL FOR THE EVALUATION. THE EVALUATOR MUST ALSO ASSUME THE ROLE OF INNOVATOR IN EFFORTS TO INFLUENCE POLICY AND PROGRAMS IN ACCORD WITH EVALUATION RESULTS. THIS MEANS PROGRAM EVALUATION SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF DISSEMINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION NETWORKS AKIN TO THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION MODEL. THROUGH GRASSROOTS CONTACT WITH DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS, EVALUATORS SHOULD CONVINCE THE PROVIDERS OF THE VALUE OF EXEMPLARY PROGRAMS PROVEN VALUABLE BY SOUND EVALUATION AND WARN THEM AGAINST INVESTING RESOURCES IN PROGRAMS PROVEN INEFFECTIVE. TO PEFORM THESE ROLES, EVALUATORS MUST BE TRAINED IN PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND TACTICS OF ADVOCACY AND INNOVATION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)