This article addresses itself to the issue of accurate assessment techniques. The authors look at three assessment techniques--psychological tests, assessment centers and "biodata"--and compare them in terms of the information they provide, their accuracy, and ease of implementation. (Author/CT)

Using examples from government program evaluation studies, six areas where research synthesis is more effective than individual studies are presented. Research synthesis can: (1) help match treatment type with recipient type; (2) explain which treatment features matter; (3) explain conflicting results; (4) determine critical outcomes; (5) assess…

Discusses ways program administrators can do a better job of justifying their curricula in light of high costs and limited enrollments. Describes procedures used at Community College of Philadelphia for assessing new programs (the comprehensive feasibility study) and determining the success of existing programs (the academic audit). (DMM)

A social learning model focusing on intrinsic outcomes of vocational programs is proposed. It would assess technical skills and knowledge, communication skills and literacy, and personal skills and attitudes. Instruments should be devised to measure characteristics of the learning setting, learner involved activities, and nature of consequences of…

By demystifying traditional rational accounting perspectives, the work of Ginsberg (TM 508 964) offers a basis to develop notions of accountability in relation to meaningful work processes. (BW)

Regular program review is recommended for universities, preferably under the authority of the university rather than an external group. The policies and procedures of the University of Alberta since 1980 that allow for continuous review of all academic and support units with a minimum of formal procedures are described. (MSE)

Discusses the development of the National Assessment of Educational Progress and describes how its methods and materials are being used in Nebraska, Connecticut, Maine, and other states as a tool to improve educational programs. (Author/JG) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Utilization).

This report outlines the major themes of the 2000 annual conference of the Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST), which focused on educational accountability in the 21st century. The conference opened with a panel presentation on the Texas accountability system. This session included a presentation by one of…

This final report describes activities and achievements of a two-year qualitative study to determine factors that contribute to successful campus implementation of student outcomes assessment by evaluating 15 student outcomes assessment pilot projects in the California State University system. Data sources included the evaluation reports from each…

Almost every state has in place a state assessment and accountability system. These systems vary greatly in their characteristics but share a common global purpose of improving teaching and learning. Some of the variations in the state systems are discussed and illustrated with examples from selected states. Issues that are critical to the value…

Many program evaluations involve some type of statistical testing to verify that the program has succeeded in accomplishing initially established goals. In many cases, this takes the form of null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) with t-tests, analysis of variance, or some form of the general linear model. This paper contends that, at least…

This paper discusses the development of evaluation strategies for a nonprofit child abuse prevention agency in Maryland. The Family Tree, an organization associated with National Parents Anonymous and the National Exchange Club Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse, serves more than 15,000 people per year through community training,…

This paper describes the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate a project designed to define a state system of care for meeting the needs of people with concurrent disorders of mental illness and substance abuse. The evaluation was intended to develop a feedback system to provide program implementers with information about…

The roster of developmental programs available to students in community colleges is expanding, though remedial education itself does remain a marginal aspect of higher education. The programs are usually under-funded, segregated from "regular" offerings, and taught by part-timers. This report suggests that the colleges are sending signals that…

This study was conducted to examine the need and feasibility of creating a unique evaluation Web site to support the needs of districts and schools recently funded under the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Program (CSRD). The federal requirement that CSRD funded schools and districts carry out comprehensive evaluation of their reform…