Used qualitative methods to describe beliefs and attitudes related to evaluation and to identify factors influencing evaluation capacity, based on interviews with 61 community-based organizations, 9 health departments, and 28 technical assistance providers. Identified four factors influencing evaluation behavior, and developed a model describing…

The new quality assurance system for nursing homes implemented by the New York State Department of Health in 1981 was compared to the previous system. The new system devoted more resources to on-site activities and identified more patient-care deficiencies and more repeat deficiencies. (SLD)

Twenty-four schools, 1,350 high school students, and 251 postsecondary students were involved in the formative evaluation used by Rhode Island to assess their tech-prep programs. The evaluation provides tangible documentation that tech prep has a positive impact on participating students. (Author/JOW)

Describes the development of a project designed to build a positive role for peer observation in a language program, reports the reactions of the participants, and gives guidelines for the use of peer observation in a language program. (seven references) (GLR)

Two reviews consider the program-evaluation standards of the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluations. This edition makes the complexity, risks, and power of evaluation clear through descriptive writing and case illustrations. The organization and content of the standards document are described. (SLD)

Six case studies are discussed, which illustrate the experimental and pragmatic epistemological paradigms as they function independently, compete with one another, or complement each other. Researchers should consider not only the substantive goals of an evaluation, but also the epistemological goals. (SLD)

This interview with Carolyn M. Callahan, an expert in the field of gifted education, addresses the process of evaluating gifted education programs, techniques for maximizing the impact of the evaluation findings, analysis of evaluation impact, benefits of using an outside evaluator, and parent involvement in program evaluation. (JDD)

This article contrasts the traditional relationships between researchers and subjects in traditional rehabilitation evaluation and research with relationships between researchers and clients-consumers in new methodologies. Collaborative research, characterized by shared power and non-hierarchical authority between client-consumers and researchers…

Presents a planning guide that can be used to improve community-based evaluation. The guide consists of a set of questions to be discussed with all stakeholders. It covers issues of the nature and purpose of the evaluation, research methods and approaches, participation and decision making, conflict resolution, and dissemination and use of…

Discusses the elements of a successful project evaluation that helps determine whether projects are worth funding because they are making a positive difference in student learning and achievement. A successful project evaluation involving the Manchester (New Hampshire) public school district's infrastructure is highlighted. (GR)

"Engineering Criteria 2000" (EC 2000), the recently revised set of accreditation criteria for engineering programs in the USA, places considerable stress on outcomes assessments. EC 2000 requires the assessment results to be used to identify program improvements and for such usage and the resulting improvements to be documented. While…

Evaluation inarguably takes place within social, cultural, historical, economic, and political contexts--the contexts defined by human existence and experience. These contexts envelope many dimensions. Race, ethnicity, language, gender, age, religion, and sexual orientation are among the commonly listed demographic attributes of contextual…

This article uses a program-level evaluation to assess the characteristics of smaller-scale project evaluations and their use for project improvement and accountability purposes. The authors used available information from the annual Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program evaluation surveys to describe the characteristics of evaluation…

The changing perspectives of mental retardation require the use of assessment techniques that reveal strengths and weaknesses in the individual's present level of functioning and highlight the areas and intensity of needed supports. Portfolios provide such a method of assessment because they are sensitive to small improvements in functioning,…

Activity analysis is an approach to the development of an improved evaluation design through the systematic delineation and analysis of the activities inherent in each of the global objectives of an ongoing program. (Author)