Standardization is inimical to innovation. Although the function of a standard is to standardize, the Evaluation Research Society (ERS) Standards avoid a standardizing effect. Their contribution lies mostly in the symbolism of their existence: to issue a set of standards is to proclaim maturity of thought for the field. (Author/LC)

Secondary analysis is a situation that argues for explicit training in methodology. Evaluative researchers are often required to extend analysis conducted by original evaluators of a program for reasons of dissatisfaction or incompleteness. (Author/GK)

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.…

The dilemma inherent in formal standards results from the tension between maintaining quality control and constraining creativity. This dilemma is nowhere more apparent than in matters of method: measurement, sampling, research design, and statistical analysis. The author offers suggestions for revision of the standards to allow for specific…

To better understand policy formation, evaluators should be aware of the perspectives from which legislators view evaluators. Illustrations of the impact of evaluation and research projects on policy are provided. (Available from: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 433 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104, single issue, $6.95.) (Author/GDC)

Ethical issues; institutional characteristics and organizational arrangements; and roles and skills of the researcher must be considered if the government is to apply social science research findings more widely for the public good. (Available from: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 433 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104, single issue, $6.95.) (Author/GDC)

The ERS Standards could affect the government contract work of large research and evaluation organizations by requiring (in the request for proposals) that work be done in accordance with the standards, incorporating the standards into the proposal, or including the standards in the contract boiler plate. (Author/LC)

Stakeholder evaluation was designed to address widely recognized problems in the conduct of evaluation. However, global propositions about the problems and prospects of program evaluation obscure the circumstances in which social science can contribute to social problem solving. (Author/PN)