This linker's guide introduces the systematic problem- solving approach used by the Florida Linkage System. An overview of the System's three SOLUTION ANALYSIS SERIES Guidebooks is given in order to clearly identify the different steps in the system's proposed training process. (LH)

This paper (1) summarizes some of the recent research and evaluation of drug and other substance abuse programs, and (2) directs attention to the work of Federal agencies (NIDA and ADAMHA) concerned with drug and substance abuse, with special reference to the impact of this work on the alleviation of minority group drug abuse problems. Evidence is…

A contract and point system were used to decrease the pilfering behavior of an 11-year-old boy. Under the contract system, the boy kept a daily record of his progress and earned points toward a trip to the planetarium. After introduction of the contract the pilfering dropped from at least two times a week to none at all. (LS)

Accountability is an outgrowth of rising demands by legislators and taxpayers that programs do actually achieve what they purport to achieve. This handbook is one of six summaries of workshops (see TM 000 138) on the development of solutions for evaluating the effectiveness of educational programs under ESEA Title III at all levels within the…

To compare the effectiveness of the traditional and the experimental approaches to Head Start classrooms, 68 children and six teachers in San Francisco participated in an educational experiment. The traditional approach emphasizes the children's internal motivation resulting from spontaneous free play and warm, accepting teachers, while the…

This paper is a review of some of the issues, dilemmas, and constraints in the evaluation of juvenile corrections. Included are such problems as: (1) adequate assessment criteria; (2) insufficient controls in experimental designs; (3) the conflict between humaneness and effectiveness; and (4) the measurement of program goals. A critique of six…

A program of family crisis intervention training for police officers was conducted, and the effectiveness of the officers' use of such techniques was evaluated. Twelve police officers were given five to six hours training, five days a week, for five weeks. Training consisted of lectures, films and readings, simulated family crisis interventions,…

Three experiments were conducted in a variety of settings to test the effectiveness of differential reinforcement of other behavior in reducing high rates of inappropriate behavior in 6 mildly and severely retarded children (8-14 years old). (Author/CL)

Suggests that the demand for accountability is well taken provided that those who design programs and those who assess them are also held responsible. Theory and practice, including evaluation are to be reviewed in reciprocal relationship to each other. (Author/AM)

Studied the effects of a peer helper program for elementary school students. While attitudes and self-concepts of fifth-graders trained as facilitators did not change significantly, peer facilitators were effective in helping second and third graders improve their classroom behaviors and school attitudes. (ABB)

Discusses the importance of fairness in evaluation studies of second-language programs and the potential for misinterpretation of studies which are not program-fair. Strategies designed to overcome this problem from the perspective of standardized tests include: specific tests for each program, program-specific plus program-neutral measures,…

Follow-up of 34 pupils (age range 6-22 originally) who had attended a university-sponsored tutoring program 5 years earlier is discussed in terms of persistence and nature of the problems, and characteristics of subgroups including graduates from academic high school programs, graduates from non-academic programs, drop-outs, and a reportedly…

The author discusses aspects of the implementation phase of quality circles. He examines participant selection, participation of part-time or temporary workers, minority representation, voluntary aspect of circle programs, secrecy, and problem resolution versus politics. (CT)

A comparison between adult and computer-delivered instruction was conducted with 17 children (ages 4 to 14 years) with severe learning and behavior problems. Results suggested that there was no overall difference in task performance between conditions, but that the children as a group did exhibit more deviant behavior in the adult condition.…

Assigned 64 urban disadvantaged fourth- and fifth-grade students to either a social problem-solving training, response cost, social problem-solving training plus response cost, or control group. Those exposed to problem-solving training improved on measures of alternative thinking and consequential thinking skills. Training did not affect teacher…