This article examines the case for the use of the creative arts in the process of designing, conducting, analyzing, and disseminating evaluations. The authors argue that using the creative arts in the process of evaluation evokes different ways of knowing and understanding the values of a program. The insights gained offer a unique addition to…

The advantages of the adversary evaluation model are argued. Adversary evaluation utilizes a judicial, argumentative approach and promotes the use of multiple types and sources of data. It grants an investigative license to dig out the data to a greater extent than more traditional approaches. Some of the payoffs of the adversary approach are: (1)…

This paper is addressed to administrators and evaluators in school districts which are initiating bilingual education programs in compliance with a U.S. Supreme Court decision. Major evaluation problems are described and remedies suggested. Each step in the sequence, from needs assessment through final report, is discussed and illustrated. The…

The Using Evaluation Data Form (UEDF) represents a psychological lever for getting a program's decision maker to consider major evaluation findings. The form may be used at any point of the evaluation process when sufficient data exist to support a finding deserving of action or reaction by the project staff. By local policy, it is required for…

The need for a more comprehensive approach to educational planning is obvious in education as projects (a) become more complex, (b) become larger, (c) call for greater allocations of money, and (d) continue for a longer period of time. PACE has served to dramatize the glaring need that exists in United States education for better planning--a need…

The purpose of this research is to provide an overall view of PACE, as seen by project directors. The discussion is concerned with characteristics of the existing projects; problems encountered; views toward state, local and federal agencies, criteria for evaluation and funding; and ideas for the future. The study points out basic facts about the…

A novel approach to the evaluation of the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs which utilizes judgment of users, rather than seeking behavioral correlates between program activities and pupil achievement, is presented. Procedures used for obtaining data, data analysis, and problems in using the approach are discussed. (Author/JKS)

The Office of Education is taking a harder look at educational programs that seek its financing. This scrutiny is designed to throw light on new data in education and to spot problem areas more quickly than in the past. (CK)

This article proposes a conceptual framework for analysis, using some of the ideas embodied in the systems approach, which will enable the investigator to identify the relationships among program operations in a systematic manner, leading to a better understanding of the operations that produce program outputs." (Author)

It should be the supervisor, rather than the staff development expert (training expert), who evaluates the results of a company's training program. All too often, changes reported by the staff development officer are not observed by the trainee's supervisor. (AN)

"The problems of pre-testing the impact of this successful series." (Editor)

Three primary stances on the wisdom of mixing evaluation models while mixing evaluation methods frame the challenges to defensible mixed-method evaluative inquiry. These challenges are addressed by shifting the mixed-method controversy from models toward other critical features of disparate traditions of inquiry. (Author/SLD)

Explores the problems of theory-based evaluation, describes the nature of potential benefits, and suggests that the benefits are significant enough to warrant continued effort to overcome the obstacles and advance its use. Many of the problems are related to inadequate theories about pathways to desired program outcomes. (SLD)

The seven articles in this issue represent an approach to multisite evaluation that has much in common with the tradition of clinical trials. However, this approach shares with cluster evaluation an appreciation for the adjustments that are necessary to reflect the realities of conducting evaluation research in actual service settings. (Author/SLD)