Early evidence from an evaluation of the Child and Family Resource Program (a Head Start demonstration) suggests that this program influences parent-child interaction in ways that promote children's social and cognitive development. (Author)

Research on the methods of clinical social work suggests that earlier pessimism about the effectiveness of these methods is no longer warranted. A brighter picture is emerging, based on the development of new forms of practice and better designed experiments. (Author)

Provides a detailed introduction to the variety of purposes for which evaluation research may be used and to the range of methods currently employed in the practice of that field. Uses specific examples, where appropriate, to provide concrete illustrations of both the goals of evaluation researchers and the methods used. (Author)

Examined the effectiveness of a training program designed to teach mental health professionals information and skills specific to counseling the elderly client. Women (N=28) and men (N=4) completed the 12-hour training program. Results indicated that participants showed statistically significant gains on the two major assessment devices. (Author)

The ultimate goal of continuing education programs is to bring about improvement in health education. Evaluations of these programs rarely indicate significant change. Problems with evaluations and with continuing education programs are discussed. (JN)

To promote effective evaluation of the 4-H program, develops a matrix that identifies unintended and intended consequences of the program. After discussing objectives and activities of 4-H, concludes that the program has effectively incorporated good delivery modes and appropriate selection of materials to make an important contribution to…

Research on training counselors and clinicians demonstrates that several behavioral training components effectively aid trainees in acquisition of relatively discrete therapist skills. However, limitations in methodological sophistication and in the development or procurement of valid dependent measures render these promising results tentative…

Factors involved in pre-planned and post-planned evaluation of program effectiveness are compared: (1) reliability and cost of data; (2) internal and external validity; (3) obtrusiveness and threat; (4) goal displacement and program direction. A model to help program administrators decide which approach is more appropriate is presented. (Author/MH)

Strasser and Deniston's own analysis (TM 504 254) shows that post-planned evaluations are unsuitable substitutes for pre-planned evaluations. When viewed as post-experimental interviews, however, post-planned evaluations can produce valuable information which complements traditional experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations. (MH)

The London Education Authority (LEA) stresses the importance of developing the interface between quantitative models of assessment and qualitative assessments, describing an interdisciplinary approach to the development of models of educational accountability, recommends an alternative method, data envelopment analysis, and compares it to the…

This paper reviews analytic methods for estimating growth curves or developmental trajectories from longitudinal data. Traditional models for studying change are contrasted with a relatively new method, hierarchical linear models. Evidence is presented indicating that hierarchical linear models can overcome some of the methodological limitations…

The lack of adequate and appropriate methods for assessing the effectiveness of interdisciplinary higher education programs is discussed. Barriers to evaluation are examined and examples of locally designed and standardized program evaluation measures are described briefly and compared. Specific recommendations are made for designing evaluations.…

The McMaster University (Canada) undergraduate medical program participated in a nine-school self-study of clinical evaluation. Comparison of top-ranked problems found lack of transmission of evaluative information from one clerkship unit to subsequent ones to be a common problem. Faculty unwillingness to record negative evaluations was exclusive…

Partial results of an evaluation of an alternative criminal-sentencing program indicate considerable disagreement among stakeholders over perceived program effectiveness. It is argued that these disagreements are not isolated events but are likely to be inherent in any program with the potential to change established systems within a complex…

This survey of 34 primary schools and 5 local education authorities in Great Britain examined reactions to the pilot test of Key Stage 1 standard assessment tasks (SATs), as they related to special needs students. Teachers' criticisms focused on the overwhelming workload, questionable SAT reliability, and resulting decline in the quality of…