Robert Stake presents his views on responsive evaluation, naturalistic approaches to evaluation, the role of testing in evaluation, and the training of evaluators. (BW)

Meltsner classified evaluators as technicians, politicians, entrepreneurs, or pretenders, based upon differing expectations norms, training, and motivations. This role-perception study of evaluators in a large urban school district supported Meltsner, although few technicians or politicians emerged. (CP)

In addition to training and knowledge of particular programs and legal requirements evaluators need interpersonal skills. Sensitivity to and rapport with staff and community as well as respect and commitment of administrators, particularly school superintendents, are critical. To make their work useful, evaluators should be facilitators, not…

In the form of a play, a brief discussion is presented of program evaluation problems at the elementary/secondary education level. (PN)

Green forecasts that unless evaluative thinking moves away from the educational research model, frustration will grow because findings are not applied to policy. Similarly, Gowin feels that concepts and values are just as important as facts. (CP)

A developmental perspective on supervising evaluation practicum students suggests that students go through developmental stages as they enhance their evaluation skills. A three-stage model adapted from counseling training theory developmental perspective is illustrated for eight developmental tasks: competence, emotional awareness, autonomy,…

The lack of utilization of evaluation studies is criticized. It is suggested that program directors be asked to submit proposals to evaluators which will demonstrate that the directors are competent to utilize the information provided and to assess the quality of the evaluation. (JKS)

In a simulated adversary-advocacy evaluation of a computer-assisted school guidance program, the evaluation audience's reaction to different forms of data, the order of argument presentations, and the rated attitude of the evaluator are shown to influence audience agreement with evaluation recommendations. (CM)

This is an introduction to a set of four papers in the field of evaluation research. A main theme in these papers is the recognition that evaluation research is not a pure objective scientific self-standing activity, but one that interacts within a context and is influenced by the interchanges. (LMO)

This paper shows how several of Cook and Gruder's meta-evaluation models have been applied in the national evaluation of Project Follow Through. Participants in the evaluation are identified, their roles are described, and the degree to which these roles map onto the meta-evaluation models is assessed. (Author/BW)

The Judicial Evaluation Method (JEM) is useful for aiding decision-making bodies to formulate policies. Broad public participation in complex issues is provided by JEM. (The conceptualization, policy formulation stages, and participant roles are identified; and the model is applied in two case studies). (MH)

This paper reports results of a 1979 survey of heads of evaluation units in public school districts and state departments of education. The survey was primarily concerned with current versus ideal procedures for determining program evaluation budgets and evaluators' perceived reasons for the low fiscal priority given evaluation activities.…

This paper assesses the status of evaluation as a profession and examines the consequences of not attending to the manner in which the discipline evolves. Special concerns are (1) what the profession seeks to accomplish; (2) ways in which it functions; and (3) who can be identified as "professionals." (LMO)

An evaluation research capability was used to document the design and implementation of two programs in a large urban school district. This paper describes the research context, the origins of the role of resident evaluator, the broad functions of this role, and factors contributing to the usefulness of this approach. (BW)

This researcher discusses what he has learned about the field of program evaluation and makes three observations: (1) Testing does not define key objectives in evaluation. (2) Politics influences what clients want to know. (3) Case studies are necessary for epistemological reasons. (LMO)