Homelessness is a serious and growing issue. Evaluations of systemic-level changes are needed to determine progress in reducing or ending homelessness. The report card methodology is one means of systems-level assessment. Rather than solely establishing an enumeration, homelessness report cards can capture pertinent information about structural…

The determinants of sentencing are of much interest in criminal justice and legal research. Understanding the determinants of sentencing decisions is important for ensuring transparent, consistent, and justifiable sentencing practice that adheres to the goals of sentencing, such as the punishment, rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation of…

Proposes group mean centering as a solution to the problem of pooling data from multiple sites. Uses California's Work Pays Demonstration Project to illustrate three analysis strategies for data from multiple sites. Discusses considerations in choosing the centering strategy. (SLD)

Examined six published papers using a theory-based evaluation (TBE) approach. Found that authors of the papers did not always make explicit the relation of their data to the theory of the program. Identified some ways in which TBE contributed to the merit of the evaluation. Outlines lessons for the future of TBE. (SLD)

Studied the analytic problems associated with a design in which one identifiable group is allocated to each treatment condition and members of these groups are measured to assess the intervention. Results from a simulation study underscore the analytic problems associated with these quasi-experimental or group-randomized designs. (SLD)

When procedures for developing recommendations are integrated into evaluation methods, it is easier to produce useful recommendations for program improvement. (RB)

Four aspects of the relationship between auditing and evaluation in their approaches to program assessment are examined: (1) their different origins; (2) the definitions and purposes of both, and the questions they seek to answer; (3) contrasting viewpoints and emphases of auditors and evaluators; and (4) commonalities of interest and potential…

The authors demonstrate how exponential smoothing can play a role in the identification of the intervention component of an interrupted time-series design model that is analogous to the role that the sample autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation functions serve in the identification of the noise portion of such a model. (Author/BW)

The methodology and design of the process evaluation system of the Pawtucket Heart Health Program (an 11-year project for changing/documenting change in cardiovascular disease risk status of a northeastern city's residents) are described. Examples of the system's use are provided. The maintenance of such a system without substantial evaluation…

Evaluation design decisions for a child care provider training program are discussed as a function of three characteristics: decentralization, local autonomy and multiple delivery strategies. While decentralized process data were gathered, only centralized outcome data were collected. The design decisions made were appropriate for such diverse…

A method is presented for analyzing data collected in a multiple group time-series design. This consists of testing linear hypotheses about the experimental and control group-means. Both a multivariate and a univariate procedure are described. (Author/GK)

Microcomputer uses by social researchers include writing programs, standard spreadsheets and data base management. In addition, microcomputers can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of information gathering by improving notetaking and organizing. Software developments will help make microcomputer data base management tools, now not…

A mixed-method program evaluation, concurrently using both qualitative interview data and quantitative questionnaire data, was conducted. It illustrated significant design and analysis issues related to integrating quantitative and qualitative methods, specifically between-method and cross-paradigm triangulation. (Author/GDC)

Strategies are presented for analyzing longitudinal research designs with many waves of data using hierarchical linear modeling. The approach defines well-focused parameters that yield meaningful effect size estimates and significance tests. It is illustrated with data from the Boys Town Follow-Up Study. (SLD)

An iterative ad hoc analysis of a variety of existing data bases was undertaken to estimate probable teacher shortages in math and science. This article describes the full set of compromises needed in order to use the data and the conclusions drawn. (Author/BW)