A survey of over 150 baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral programs in social work investigated the kinds of program outcomes assessment systems used. Frequency of use of each system is examined, comparison is made across levels, and implications for social work education at each level are discussed. (Author/MSE)

How state agencies have addressed privatization in a service setting (municipal wastewater treatment) is discussed. The implications for evaluations of many types of programs, particularly those of local service programs regulated by the states, are explored. Data from a national survey of state environmental regulatory agencies are highlighted.…

Reviews the current status of assessment programs in higher education, arguing that comprehensive assessment programs will increase the likelihood that minority college students will persist and graduate. Components and design of comprehensive assessment programs created for this purpose are described. Three recommendations for culturally…

Discusses a study conducted by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) which examined the federally funded research system and the role of data for decision making in research policy. Highlights include data needs; research expenditures and personnel; the research process; measuring the outcomes of research; and the research evaluation process.…

Discusses problems of communication apprehension (CA) among developmental students. Explains types of CA, reviews methods of individual assessment among developmental students, and describes a structured alleviation curriculum. Provides step-by-step instructions for employing the CA alleviation techniques of systematic desensitization, cognitive…

Evaluation issues pertaining to the Intelligent Vehicle Highway System are discussed. Transportation is an area that clearly illustrates how technology is outrunning social science. Those responsible for the evaluation of programs and options must assume responsibility for spelling out the destructive consequences of focusing only on technology.…

Three articles discuss instructional design considerations in education for executives: (1) "The Use of the Measurement of Continuous Improvement Model for Training Program Evaluation" (Ferdinand Tesoro); (2) "The Systems Design Approach to Developing Computer Based Instruction" (Gerry Costello); and (3) "Training as a…

Discusses the impact of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) on state prison libraries. Evaluations of the LSCA are reviewed; the effectiveness of the LSCA in the areas of library budgets, staff, and book collection size is considered; and recommendations for further research are suggested. (22 references) (LRW)

Used cognitive and affective measures to gather data from seventh-grade students and from youth mandated into program by school or court to evaluate Early Intervention Alcohol/Drug Education Programs. Data analyses revealed that significant growth occurred in knowledge, coupled with limited proficiency of concepts taught in program. Found…

Discussion of student evaluation in clinical legal education (CLE) focuses on self-evaluation. It considers the goals of CLE and the role of evaluation methods in accomplishing them, examines three models in which teaching self-evaluation is central, and reviews legal and medical education teaching techniques using explicit and implicit evaluation…

A study of the introduction of university staff performance appraisal in three British universities (n=277 administrators and faculty in various departments) found generally favorable opinions, with some concerns about methods and frequency of evaluation and about lack of follow-up on appraisal results. (MSE)

A method is outlined for social work students to evaluate their own interviewing techniques. Students focus on their implementation of critical components of the initial interview in role plays, field placements, and class assignments. An interview checklist is included as a tool for operationally defining and monitoring interview components.…

This critique discusses conceptual and practical issues raised in a paper by D. Marston (EC 210 837) on choosing the most technically adequate graph for measuring progress on individual education plans. The critique argues that the Standard Behavior Chart is a technically adequate and useful measurement tool. (JDD)

This article responds to a criticism (EC 231 964) of a paper that discusses graphs for measuring progress on individual education plans (EC 210 837). It notes that the type of chart used is not a major issue; the important point is that teachers repeatedly gather data on educationally relevant tasks and evaluate intervention effectiveness. (JDD)

This article reviews the principal methods economists and cost benefit analysts use in evaluating research. Two common approaches are surplus measures (combinations of consumer and producer surpluses) and productivity measures. Technical difficulties and political and organizational constraints are discussed for these measures. (SLD)