The principles of method development and assessment that have resulted from a long-range project at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory to create new methods for program evaluation are summarized. (Author/AL)

The variety of contexts, the politics of each situation, and the availability of resources all dictate variations in assessing outcomes. Seven major principles of program evaluation are considered, along with a cautionary note to the ambitious who expect large program effects. (Author)

Several validity typologies are overviewed then integrated. The integrated framework is used to contrast the positions of Campbell and Cronback. The current practice and logic of quasi-experimentation is critiqued, and expansions beyond the primary focus of dominant validity typologies are suggested. (BS)

The assessment of the outcomes of social programs should always include estimates of the size of the effects produced. Various approaches to this problem are discussed. (Author)

Evaluation client characteristics are outlined, based on experiences of the Office of Instructional and Management Services, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and contract evaluators for industry and other higher education institutions. Objectivity, expertise, sensitivity to client needs, standardized data presentation,…

The role of human judgment in the development and synthesis of evidence has not been adequately developed or acknowledged within quasi-experimental analysis. Corrective solutions need to confront the fact that causal analysis within complex environments will require a more active assessment that entails reasoning and statistical modeling.…

The user-oriented and utilization-focused evaluation design of the two-year Caribbean Agricultural Extension Project, funded by Aid to International Development, is reviewed. The evaluation scope, stakeholders, evaluation team credibility, official approval of evaluation, and confidence in the evaluation process are addressed, within a…

The design and implementation of a partnership evaluation at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, during the 1985-86 academic year are discussed. Within a conversational format, a strategy is outlined for sharing evaluation responsibilities between the client and evaluator. (TJH)

Since usually no defensible option for performing a task within quasi-experimentation is unbiased, it is desirable to select several options that reflect biases in different directions. The benefits of applying a critical multiplism approach to causal hypotheses, group nonequivalence, and units of analysis in quasi-experimentation is discussed.…

Six papers discuss the increasing role of federal Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs) in program evaluation. This issue presents an overview of such inspections, case studies from three federal agencies, and a review of questions and concerns about inspections by OIGs. (SLD)

An overview of how program evaluation is organized within the federal government is presented. Using examples from three federal agencies, the author shows how evaluation units are formed, defines their functions, and discusses the barriers that must be overcome to manage a federal program evaluation office effectively. (Author)

Methods useful in identifying and assessing outcomes of relatively simple programs may not be practical or appropriate for complex programs and systems. Comparative case study methods are recommended for dealing with such global outcomes of planned organizational change. (Author)

This paper provides a summary of cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses and their potential importance for decision making. The extent to which these tools are actually used, the possible connections between meta-analysis and cost-effective analysis, and the connection between effect sizes and benefit-cost ratios are discussed. (JAZ)

Strategies for use by clients who commission evaluation studies in the private, university, or governmental sector are outlined. Topics covered include establishing the purpose of the evaluation, assembling in-house management staff, specifying work and expertise requirements, establishing confidentiality and project control, and managing results.…

This article provides an overview of the teaching of evaluation across the disciplines noting changes that have occurred in the last 20 years, identifying common topics covered in a range of program evaluation courses, and discussing issues of course design and content that confront the experienced and novice instructor. (LMO)