The auditing concept is received from the perspective of one who has conducted audits since their inception. Using the case study approach, a number of the major issues which practitioners have confronted in the conduct of the audit are considered. The inherent conflicts in the auditor's role as an independent certifier of the results of the…

In the last 15 years Malaysia has witnessed tremendous changes in the socio-political and economic fields, which have been reflected in the country's educational system. Formerly evaluation in the schools was synonymous with the term or yearly school achievement tests, or the administration of periodic standardized achievement tests. In December,…

The results of a major study on the topic of evaluation and decision making which was conducted at the Center for the Study of Evaluation are presented. The purpose of this paper is to explain what we know about independent educational accomplishment audits and the manner in which they have been carried out. As part of the larger study cited…

Seven major steps are outlined in this brief introduction to the process of evaluation: (1) Identification of the objectives of the educational enterprise. (2) Specification of the types of student behavior that reflect achievement of the objectives. (3) Construction of situations in which the student will be required or expected to demonstrate…

A comprehensive conceptual framework for the validation of educational programs has been proposed. The conceptual framework includes the concept of an educational program as a system of curricular and instructional claims and methods of evaluation which entail a wide range of judgments of both logical validity and factual validity. Judgments of…

The three papers describe current projects in the field for the visually handicapped which are directed toward improvement of educational programs in both day and residential settings. The first paper (by F. Roberts) reviews the process employed for revising the standards for residential schools. Discussed in the second paper (by G. Scholl) is the…

The management and evaluation of education programs requires a timely, accurate information system. The discrepancy analysis model described aids in providing this information in a format that may be processed and yields the method by which such a system may be developed and implemented. Building from specific statements of expected project…

The concern with competency-based education is not whether it is any different from the more traditional approaches but whether it is worth the considerable effort it involves. There are several aspects of a competency-based program to be considered in its evaluation. The first is whether or not there is a justifiable need for the specified…

The results from application of Stufflebeam's comprehensive decision-making methodology--the context-input-process-product (CIPP) evaluation model--to the evaluation of a dental team training program with expanded functions of auxiliary personnel (paraprofessionals) at a school of dentistry are described. In view of the expectations of health care…

Legally mandated educational programs often lack specificity and guidelines for such programs are often vague and subject to considerable variability in interpretation. This situation presents perennial problems for evaluators. Few evaluation models have the flexibility for dealing with this ambiguity and variability while at the same time…

An evaluation of a leadership training program for teaching assistants was made by examining the teaching effectiveness of a group of trained assistants in contrast to an untrained group. Assessments of the teaching assistant's classroom behavior were made by student volunteers, in their respective classes, at four time intervals during the term.…

Many of today's teenagers are sexually experienced but lack the knowledge they need to avoid the emotional and physical problems resulting from unwanted pregnancy and veneral disease. With this fact in mind, a study was conducted in collaboration with the Planned Parenthood League Inc., of Detroit in order to generate specific content-oriented…

Problems are frequently encountered when attempting to improve the evaluation design of an ongoing educational program which has not made adequate provisions for evaluation. Usually the objectives of such a program are too global to guide the evaluator in the development of a more functional evaluation design. This paper presents a discussion of…

This paper describes the current status of a helping skills program designed to train mental health paraprofessionals in relationship-building skills. Six skills were identified as the basis of the training program: (1) understanding the need to be a helper; (2) using effective nonverbal behavior; (3) using effective verbal behavior; (4) using…

This paper presents a theoretical construct that can be used to describe the implementation process of school programs in terms of a multi-dimensional model. Focusing on the research process of the Urban Education Studies, which is devoted to the identification and study of educational programs which are beginning to make inroads for the…