Provides supportive evidence for a concept (M. Scriven's) of formative evaluation as a method for ongoing improvement of educational programs (including continuing education) through a description of the development and modification of a workshop in rehabilitation nursing, based on formative evaluation procedures. (TA)

Strategies for enhancing the social relevance of evaluation research concerning community-based residential services for individuals with severe learning difficulties or with serious psychiatric disabilities focus on: reflection of cultural values in the residential environment; number of service users living in the community; and the quality of…

A British review process for policy-oriented research is described, focusing on the problems of keeping academic criteria and policy relevance distinct in the process. The use of multiple evaluative frameworks for policy-related research is advocated. (MSE)

Calvert County School District, Maryland, has developed a differentiated teacher evaluation system that promotes collaboration among supervisors and administrators in rating teacher performance. Methods involve informal observation, rating observation, and nonrating observation. Implementation is accompanied by extensive formative evaluation by…

This paper discusses social and organizational differences between client-focused, volunteer-staffed programs and comparable paid-personnel programs. Particular attention is given to the effects of these differences on three aspects of the evaluation process: initiation of the evaluation, need for process evaluation, and utilization of evaluation…

The Training Effectiveness Evaluation system provides three categories of tools for planning evaluation of industrial training programs, gathering the needed information, and reporting it. These categories are (1) satisfaction, (2) learning, and (3) performance. (CH)

The article discusses the need for systematic program evaluation of rural special education. Inherent characteristics of rural areas that inhibit data gathering and evaluation are described as well as the consequences of inadequate program evaluation. It is recommended that traditional evaluation models be adapted for rural environments.…

Presents case reports to illustrate importance of technique of transtelephonic cardiac monitoring in home care and use of technique to provide objective marker upon which physicians' decisions could be made. (Author/NB)

In investigating communication competencies needed by beginning automotive mechanics, an attempt was made to compare the effectiveness of three occupational analysis techniques: (1) developing a curriculum (DACUM), (2) observation, and (3) extended information search. Extended information search produced a comprehensive, valid list of competencies…

This collection of seven short articles discusses the role of naturalistic observation in program evaluation. There are criteria that evaluators explicitly or implicitly use to reach conclusions. These papers discuss these criteria and try to determine what constitutes legitimate evaluation knowledge. (RB)

Issues in the evaluation of the college planning process are examined, and 13 questions to be addressed in assessing both strategic and operational planning functions are presented, including criteria for evaluating (1) the decisional aspect of planning, (2) planning data, and (3) the process. Evaluation methods are also discussed. (MSE)

Recent methodological advances are described that enable the analyst to extract additional information from the data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology, including goal programming to develop cross-efficiencies, cluster analysis, analysis of variance, and pooled cross section time-series analysis. Some shortcomings of DEA are discussed. (LMO)

The author describes the testing program designed to determine awarding of the Green Certificate to farming trainees in Alberta, Canada. The three parts of the test include (1) job-site testing, (2) regional test center testing, and (3) written examination. (CH)

Reports results of a survey of college and university programs (N=76) for the preparation of group counselors as represented by persons who are jointly members of the Association for Specialists in Group Work and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Discusses program characteristics and training and assessment methods and…

In attempt to answer the question of how to measure or evaluate the quality of reference service to youth, this essay examines the literature; defines the terms (reference services and tools, parental concern, library instruction); discusses move toward quality evaluation; and provides options and approaches to such measurement. (EJS)