NCJ Number
19408
Date Published
1974
Length
97 pages
Annotation
IN THIS BOOK DESIGNED FOR CLASSROOM USE AND PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION, THE AUTHOR ARGUES AGAINST TRADITIONAL SHORT TERM PROGRAM EVALUATIONS WHICH FUEL POLICY DECISIONS AND FOR LONG TERM ONES WHICH FOSTER SYSTEM UNDERSTANDING.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE INEFFICACY AND INEFFICIENCY OF PREVIOUS EVALUATION RESEARCH, IDENTIFYING SUCH IMPEDING FACTORS TO TRUE EVALUATION AS DISAGREEMENT OVER TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY, ILL-DEFINED PROGRAM GOALS, LACK OF THEORETICAL RATIONALES, AND INCOMPLETE AND INCONSISTENT DATA GATHERING. HE RECOMMENDS MORE INTENSE EXAMINATION OF PRESENT DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND PROPOSES A LONG TERM EVALUATION PROCESS WHICH WOULD INVOLVE A STAGEBY-STAGE PROGRESSION OF PROGRAM REVIEW, PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT, AND POSSIBLY PROGRAM INNOVATION. HE FURTHER SUGGESTS THAT PROGRAM WORKERS SHOULD BE EVALUATED IN TERMS OF THE INTEGRITY WITH WHICH THEY HAVE CARRIED OUT THE ORIGINAL PLAN AND SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESULTS OF AN EXPERIMENT. THE AUTHOR'S ARGUMENTS ARE DISCUSSED AS THEY RELATE TO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE UNDERGONE EVALUATION.