An outcomes hierarchy for professional training programs in higher education institutions is advanced. The hierarchy was developed, using an inductive approach, from the research literature and an empirical inquiry into the outcomes of a graduate training program in evaluation that involved 26 Australian graduate students. (SLD)

Describes ocular and other complications of diabetes that orientation and mobility instructors should consider in determining the most appropriate mobility training for persons with diabetes who are visually impaired. Compares the benefits of using dog guides and long canes in dealing with these various complications. (Author/CR)

Directors of the largest and most active executive branch evaluation offices from 14 government agencies assessed the impacts of the first year of federal government "reinvention." Results suggest an erosion of government capacity to conduct evaluations that is expected to increase in the presidential election year. (SLD)

Low predictability (ability to identify what events will be happening in the future, when, with whom, for how long, and with what outcomes) may be associated with increased problem behavior among children with disabilities. This paper describes strategies for assessing stability and predictability in a school or community context, and using the…

This editorial addresses issues of evaluating school effectiveness, especially in the United Kingdom, with emphasis on use of value-added approaches. It stresses the importance of having a good measure of pupils' prior attainment, the need for noting differences between and within schools, and the finding that most schools obtain results which are…

Value-added measures of school effectiveness are reviewed in relation to the British government's requirement for schools to publish raw examination results. A series of multilevel analyses of examination results found that most variation in pupil outcomes could be explained by pupil intake factors suggesting the greater importance of…

Colleges and universities should critically review their publications periodically to save money and also as a way to present a more cohesive institutional identity. Ten recommendations are made for conducting a productive publications audit; they include choosing an evaluation method, selecting participants, making the experience pleasant, and…

Examined the usefulness of British Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) reports for educational improvement. After a pilot examination of 21 OFSTED reports, examined the scalar judgments of 11 reports in detail. Findings indicate that the inspection reports are weak and questionable products, not a good base for developing school improvement…

Argues that it is possible to evaluate the excellence of academic documents involving the study of geosciences K-16 by using the Geoscience Academic Excellence Model which was developed by scientific societies including the National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences. (Author/YDS)

Argues that affective learning is a poorly understood phenomenon and that objective-setting and evaluation for learning in the affective domain are often neglected in educational programs. Addresses the problem this creates for nonformal science-learning centers. Contains 38 references. (DDR)

Proposes and evaluates a method to test for mediation in multilevel data sets formed when an intervention administered to groups is designed to produce change in individual mediator and outcome variables. Applies the method to the ATLAS intervention designed to decrease steroid use among high school football players. (SLD)

Describes the 1995-1997 evaluation framework and activities of an evaluation of HIV-prevention efforts. This framework is offered as a platform for future efforts to determine the most effective ways to prevent HIV transmission, and it may be generalizable to other disease-prevention and health-promotion programs. (SLD)

This article describes common programmatic and methodological elements that form the foundation of applied behavior analysis (ABA). A summary of the scope of the behavioral research is provided, including details of six studies that demonstrated large-scale interventions. Components of programs that share common elements of the ABA approach are…

Presents various options for schools to consider when shopping for education reform approaches. The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation was established to identify and test social programs and innovative social policy ideas that can improve the wellbeing of disadvantaged Canadians. Examples are presented of random assignment evaluations…

Describes an initiative designed to help public health managers in Ontario, Canada, improve their knowledge and skills in program evaluation. The initiative involved the development of a self-directed Program Evaluation Tool Kit and an accompanying workshop. Lists five principles of the tool kit. (SLD)