Presents an evaluation of "Trade-offs," a series of television/film economic education programs for children ages 9 to 14. Results indicate that "Trade-offs" was effective in all classes, but students who viewed the films and whose teachers attended the inservice course made the greatest gains. (Author/KC)

Provides a detailed introduction to the variety of purposes for which evaluation research may be used and to the range of methods currently employed in the practice of that field. Uses specific examples, where appropriate, to provide concrete illustrations of both the goals of evaluation researchers and the methods used. (Author)

Evaluated the effectiveness of a U.S. General Accounting Office communications training program. Employees who underwent training reported more positive attitudes about communication skills and performed better on knowledge and recognition assessments, otherwise the relative amount of change on the measures was not very large. (Author)

Examined the effectiveness of a training program designed to teach mental health professionals information and skills specific to counseling the elderly client. Women (N=28) and men (N=4) completed the 12-hour training program. Results indicated that participants showed statistically significant gains on the two major assessment devices. (Author)

Low-achieving freshmen students (N=96) were required to participate in an eight-week counseling/study skills program. Analysis of variance compared experimental and control groups on quarterly and cumulative grade point averages (GPA) and credit completion ratios (CCR). The intervention did not influence GPAs or persistence in college, but did…

Compared lecture and small discussion group methods in regard to increasing knowledge and affecting attitude change about alcohol use and alcoholism among mental health workers. Results indicate it is relatively easy to change levels of information, but attitude change through alcohol education is a complex and intricately involved phenomenon.…

Investigated the causal direction between interpersonal trust and assessed value of an MBO program in a large mass-transit organization. Three measures of trust were collected. Results indicated that trust in superiors and trust in top management affect the assessed value of MBO and suggests that an interaction effect occurred. (Author)

The ultimate goal of continuing education programs is to bring about improvement in health education. Evaluations of these programs rarely indicate significant change. Problems with evaluations and with continuing education programs are discussed. (JN)

A five-step method of instructional program evaluation is described, which helps insure educators that their graduates will continue to gain employment and that courses will continue to teach skills sought by employers. The steps are self-identification, target groups, requirements, data reduction, and program development. (CT)

To promote effective evaluation of the 4-H program, develops a matrix that identifies unintended and intended consequences of the program. After discussing objectives and activities of 4-H, concludes that the program has effectively incorporated good delivery modes and appropriate selection of materials to make an important contribution to…

Factors involved in pre-planned and post-planned evaluation of program effectiveness are compared: (1) reliability and cost of data; (2) internal and external validity; (3) obtrusiveness and threat; (4) goal displacement and program direction. A model to help program administrators decide which approach is more appropriate is presented. (Author/MH)

Strasser and Deniston's own analysis (TM 504 254) shows that post-planned evaluations are unsuitable substitutes for pre-planned evaluations. When viewed as post-experimental interviews, however, post-planned evaluations can produce valuable information which complements traditional experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations. (MH)

Research evidence shows that mastery learning is much more effective than conventional methods; however, it is not yet known whether it works equally well for all kinds of learning and for all kinds of students. (Author/JM)

Organizing a preventive health education program for prisoners presents special problems in planning and implementation. (MB)

Discusses successes and problems of the Adult Performance Level (APL) project funded by the U.S. Office of Education in 1971 to identify the skills necessary for an adult to function successfully in today's society. (TA)