Client satisfaction measures are an essential component of program evaluation. This article describes the development of a scale for measuring the satisfaction levels of parents whose children have received foster care services. Subjected to various statistical measures, the Parent Satisfaction with Foster Care Services Scale appears to be a…

This article examines the traditional assumption that higher education evaluation systems follow a similar global format. Comparative study examines institutional evaluation and assessment processes in two nation-states that are geographically and economically remote but which, historically, share a common civic perspective. The main research…

A survey instrument developed to measure the perceived performance of the six components of an electronic performance support system (EPSS) and the perceived benefits of EPSS use was mailed to 182 target EPSS co-ordinators. A total of 98 (54.0%) questionnaires were returned. Of these, there were 79 (80.6%) usable surveys. Research results indicate…

An exploratory study was conducted which assessed behaviors that characterize social competence in the second and fifth grades. A contextual approach was used to gather information from second- and fifth-grade children and their parents and teachers regarding the behaviors they perceived to be important for getting along well with peers. Data were…

Since the 1997 Dearing Report, generic skills development has become an essential part of higher education in the UK. Generic skills programmes are, in the main, either run in parallel with existing curricula or "embedded" within them. In 1993 the General Medical Council introduced student selected components (SSCs) into the UK medical…

The collection of which this article is a part is entitled "Functions of Assessment in Teacher Education." The other papers in this set draw our attention to multiple functions of assessment including peer evaluation, promoting reflection, use of technology in demonstrating teacher competence, and validating new national standards of excellence…

Educators do not refute that excellent teachers possess particular dispositions that make them stand out or be recognized among their peers. Kindness, caring, having high expectations for students and themselves, teaching students to think critically, having a strong work ethic, and to be aware of, and having an appreciation of cultural diversity…

This study reviews the criteria for assessing reflective thinking, and investigates how the process of reflective thinking develops in preservice teachers. Reflections of preservice teachers are assessed from two perspectives: content and depth. The findings include variations in the content, and that the pace at which reflective thinking deepens…

A distinction is made between objective and subjective assessment when quality of life evaluation is considered. The aim was to explore the association between objective and subjective appraisals within similar quality of life domains. Correlations between scores on objective and subjective quality of life measures concerning choice, activity and…

Behavioral and social sciences theories and models have the potential to enhance efforts to reduce unintentional injuries. The authors reviewed the published literature on behavioral and social science theory applications to unintentional injury problems to enumerate and categorize the ways different theories and models are used in injury…

Simulations currently play a key role in facilitating competency training for incident commanders of the emergency services. The article briefly reviews current practice in incident command training and considers the effectiveness of simulation usage and practice for crisis management more generally.

In 2002 the authors evaluated a family support project known as Working with Families managed by the Children's Society and located in a primary school on a large, mainly white council estate in Rochdale. Our reflections on some of the issues which emerged in relation to basing family support services in a school setting seem timely in the light…

This study examined the utility of a paired-choice preference assessment in predicting reinforcer efficacy for a 13-month old with a history of prenatal drug exposure. First, two paired-choice assessments were conducted one week apart, using the same items. A high level of correspondence between the two assessments was observed. Next, a reinforcer…

This paper has been developed by the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children to serve as a companion document to the 2003 joint position statement, "Early Childhood Curriculum, Assessment and Program Evaluation-Building and Effective, Accountable System in Programs for Children Birth through Age 8,"…

This article outlines the Results-Based Evaluation (RBE) framework proposed for the ex-post assessment of the National Environmental Management Strategies (NEMS) in 12 small-island developing states (SIDS) in the South Pacific. It gives an overview of the methods and basis of developing an evaluation framework in the context of SIDS in the region.…