The need for and applicability of general systems theory in human services evaluation is discussed. The role of evaluation in human services agencies is described and the necessity of combining the programs to be evaluated and the evaluation process itself in a single unifying conceptual model is demonstrated. (Author/AL)

The evaluation activities of HEW's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation are used as a case study of a central evaluation unit in a multilevel organization. Several evaluation roles are discussed: oversight, coordination, leadership, and information dissemination. (Author/AL)

Case studies of educational program evaluations demonstrate that utilization of evaluative information occurs; however, its forms and the forces influencing utilization are complex. Naturalistic methods were used to study utilization. (See RIE: ED 174 666). (Available from: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 433 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104, single…

Investigated two variance estimation procedures on a normed test treated as a criterion-referenced test. The first estimation procedure estimated the standard deviation systematically higher, whereas the second procedure's estimation was systematically lower than the actual standard deviation. (Author/RC)

Offers evaluation methods based on criteria that relate directly to instructional techniques appropriate for adult learners, benefit both teacher and student, and preserve the integrity of the mature student. (Author/FL)

A 10-site school program is evaluated, the history of community schools, local program's goals, and the method used to study each goal are described. Included also are a structural equation model of the data and discussion of the politics of the evaluation. (Author/GK)

Performance review, as used in one school district, is a disciplined communication process that relies heavily on interviews. In this process people in the organization cooperatively express their hopes and aspirations for a stated period and rationalize them within the context of the overall goals of the corporation. Available from Pergamon Press…

Eisner's educational criticism model produces a richer description of an English classroom than does Flanders' interaction analysis. (Author)

A conceptual perspective and set of principles are offered for the evaluation of special service programs in public school settings. Special service program evaluation is seen as a process of obtaining and reporting information on a program's adequacy, process, efficiency, and impact. (Author)

Describes an evaluation study of an interpersonal effectiveness management course for first-level supervisors. The evaluator collected information using graduate appraisal of course content, skill retention, measures, significant incident techniques, analysis of work products/records, appraisal of instructor, observation checklists, and…

Differences among impartiality, objectivity, partisanship, fanaticism, and skepticism are viewed as relevant to the role of the evaluator. The desirability of establishing a community of minds committed to argumentation before beginning an evaluation is suggested. (Author/CTM)

The Episode of Purposive Change Model was used to evaluate the statewide redesign of human services for vulnerable children/families. Significant findings included the following: (1) community context is important; (2) long-term change requires keeping the initiative on the community agenda; and (3) participants must remain focused on ultimate…

The grounded experiences of two participatory evaluation case studies indicate that, when action is the desired outcome of an evaluation, somewhat less rather than more diversity of stakeholder participation is actually what is wanted. A narrowing of diversity is not necessarily in violation of democratic participatory aims. (SLD)

After reviewing the extant literature, this article describes a cost analysis of the transient evoked otoaoustic emissions (TEOAE)-based universal newborn hearing screening program. Reasons why the cost per baby ($7.42) is lower than in previous reports are explained and the benefits of having accurate cost analysis data are summarized. (Author/CR)

Postmodern approaches to school-level evaluation by building on the fourth-generation evaluation model developed by E. Guba and Y. Lincoln are suggested. It is argued that this conceptualization of evaluation has particular relevance for development of alternative evaluation practices among stakeholders that can improve the use of evaluation…