Addresses clinical and methodological issues in conducting the Marital Systems Study, a research project evaluating the efficacy of systems-oriented conjoint treatment with couples in which one spouse is abusing alcohol. These include standardizing and monitoring the intervention and developing an interactional perspective on the alcohol-related…

Describes a computer-aided instruction program developed at Sheffield City Polytechnic, England, which teaches students to analyze simple sentences into their constituents and to draw tree diagrams representing their structures. Program strategy, control and operation of the programs, and evaluation are discussed. Three references and illustrative…

Describes the creation and objectives of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and reviews the findings of an evaluation of the NAEP, published in "Measuring the Quality of Education," by Wirtz and Lapointe. Focuses on the role that the NAEP can play in establishing uniform, national educational standards. (GC)

Discusses the design and scoring of the writing proficiency exam conducted at San Francisco State University. Explains the program's counseling system for those students who do not pass the proficiency exam. (HTH)

Reviews four different approaches to evaluation--decision-oriented, applied research, value-oriented, and systems-oriented--and suggests how each may be applied to the evaluation of instructional programs. Nine references are listed. (Author/CHC)

Six areas of staff development program evaluation in which participants may be meaningfully involved are: (1) clarification of the program's goals; (2) development of a design for the evaluation study; (3) development of methods for measurement; (4) analysis of information; (5) response to evaluation instruments; and (6) reporting on an evaluation…

Two issues in the Holtzman Project bear examination and reconsideration: (1) the recommendation for the use of field experiments as an exclusive "authorized" evaluation design, and (2) the focus on the needs of the federal client, and the apparent lack of concern for clients at the state and local levels. (GC)

In the past, faculty evaluation programs have been more often prone to failure than success. Characteristics of a successful program include: (1) deciding the system's purpose; (2) seeking solid administrative support; (3) securing faculty involvement; (4) overcoming faculty resistance; (5) selecting the evaluation instruments; and (6) obtaining…

Presents an evaluation model appropriate for evaluating curriculum-based career education programs, with step-by-step instructions for use. Eighteen tasks for evaluating the implementation of career education curriculum are noted in four model phases: writing the evaluation problem, developing evaluation design, implementing evaluation plans, and…

The focus is on problems and issues common to both social program evaluation and to evaluation in physical sciences, engineering, medicine, and commerce. Problems discussed include: program implementation; anticipation of success or failure; evaluation data quality; reliability and validity; evaluation design; access to data; data confidentiality;…

Reviews the process employed in evaluating the national 4-H program. Holds that the evaluation design was influenced by political, rather than methodological, concerns. Takes examples from the 4-H evaluation to illustrate dilemmas that have emerged in current evaluation process and theory. (Author/GC)

Many problems are encountered when evaluating a complex, decentralized national program such as 4-H. Good effects of the federal evaluation mandate include local concern with program quality. Bad effects include that local agencies are forced to utilize noxious methodologies or to collect information they consider to be unimportant. (Author/GC)

Describes methods used in a project at George Washington University's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center to predict and classify a family's involvement in a patient's rehabilitation program. As family attitudes can enhance or damage a program's effectiveness, early identification of uncooperative families is necessary so that intervention…

The article describes how to do an initial evaluation, establish rapport, set realistic goals, and establish an orientation training program with low-functioning deaf blind children. (PHR)

Sets forth the thesis that the competencies developed in special education teacher training programs should be evaluated in terms of the performance of the students served by the trainees. An overview of the evaluation of the field-based program at George Peabody College for Teachers (Nashville, Tennessee) is given. (SBH)