This article presents the criteria developed by the American Institutes for Research to select evaluated exemplary career education projects across the nation for submission to the Joint Dissemination and Review Panel (JDRP) of the Office of Education (USOE) and the National Institute of Education (NIE). (Author)

In a question-and-answer format, the assistant vice president for development and director of alumni relations at Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania) discusses how alumni directors can gauge their programs' effectiveness, how his institution addresses the issue, and how a Council for Advancement and Support of Education project to develop…

Recent work with automotive e-commerce clients led to the development of a performance analysis methodology called the Seven Performance Drivers, including: standards, incentives, capacity, knowledge and skill, measurement, feedback, and analysis. This methodology has been highly effective in introducing and implementing performance improvement.…

The experience of 10 years evaluating HIV risk-reduction intervention for drug users leads to the argument that program outreach workers are part of the intervention continuum and have important effects on service delivery. Improving pre-enrollment data collection will address evaluation issues raised by pre-enrollment outreach contacts. (SLD)

Investigates the distance education and information technology literature in an attempt to develop a model to measure quality and learning in online courses. The resulting model is the first proposed to address issues of flexibility, responsiveness, interaction, student learning, technical support, technology, and student satisfaction…

Six essays are presented that discuss the definition, methodologies, and contexts of program environment evaluation. Specific topics covered include the use of profiles and models, social-psychological classroom environments, program/organization congruence, program personnel, and measuring implementation of social treatment. (TJH)

Although economic analysis is complicated and has limitations, it is a workable method capable of producing a great deal of information about the value of early interventions. Procedures for conducting a cost analysis, cost-benefit analysis, or cost-effectiveness analysis are outlined, along with a review of the approach's advantages and…

The phenomenon of empowerment in evaluation is examined by hypothesizing possible benefits and harms that may accrue from the program development process and the impact both may have on the evaluation. The evaluation of the Health Care Intervention Service of New York State offers an example. (SLD)

This letter reports on a research study in which five students (initially identified as severely mentally retarded and/or autistic) were tested with and without the use of facilitated communication while facilitators were prevented from hearing the test questions. Positive results for four of the students raise issues about accurate educational…

Describes an innovation in an outer-London comprehensive school and raises questions concerning its implementation. Describes the school and its context and outlines the innovation, Assertive Discipline. Presents classroom observations showing uneven interpretations by teachers and no positive effects on pupil behavior. Discusses seven potential…

An external evaluation of team training and program evaluation processes addressed California teacher educators' concerns that evaluators of teacher credentialing programs were unprepared, making the process ineffective. Surveys of higher education institutions raised concerns about the benefits of increasing external scrutiny of teacher education…

Four short-term British Council Key English Language Teaching (KELT) tertiary education projects in South India were evaluated. The resulting evaluation model incorporated four outcome criteria for success and four input indicators. Recommendations for future policy are offered. (three references) (Author/LB)

Process evaluation of the Partners for Prevention pilot project testing an office-based system involving 17 Denver (Colorado) physicians in an effort to increase cancer prevention indicates the value of the program philosophy as well as various deficiencies in its operation. New strategies suggested by the evaluation are being tested. (SLD)

Evaluation of strategic planning programs is illustrated using the examples of statewide forest resource planning programs implemented by state governments in 1986. Client-based perspectives were studied via a survey of 216 officials affected by the forestry planning program. Considering planning's context, process, outputs, and performance helped…

Budget-conscious Americans are increasingly asking that staff developers provide hard data about program effectiveness. The concept of return on investment (ROI) is useful in documenting the effectiveness of staff development programs. To calculate ROI, baseline data must be compared with results realized by the organization. (SM)