"The problems of pre-testing the impact of this successful series." (Editor)

The variety of contexts, the politics of each situation, and the availability of resources all dictate variations in assessing outcomes. Seven major principles of program evaluation are considered, along with a cautionary note to the ambitious who expect large program effects. (Author)

Concludes that program evaluators have to be advocates of their results, active in bringing them to the attention of others, and willing to identify publicly any policy and practical implications. Such dedication to communication and dissemination cannot help but promote utilization. (Author/AM)

This is the second of three reports in a series of theoretical and empirical investigations of program evaluation. A questionnaire survey of 200 adult, technical training programs and their evaluations was conducted. This was followed up by site visits to 14 of them for indepth study. The 200 programs were divided equally among Department of…

In reacting to five recent books on program evaluation, eight evaluation perils are discussed: poor preparation of evaluations, programs with unrealistic goals, the mix-up of models, interpersonal conflicts, the morass of measurement, answering evaluation questions, the secondary evaluator as sniper, and hostility from program staff. (CM)

The purpose is to codify some program evaluation principles and provide a framework for program evaluation practices. Specifically: (1) common evaluation purposes are listed along with the general methods of investigation most apt for each purpose; (2) types of sources of evidence are listed and are associated with general methods of…

The activities of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in evaluating educational programs are described. Program evaluations are categorized as needs assessment, formative evaluation, or summative evaluation. Three classic efforts which illustrate the range of ETS' participation are the Pennsylvania Goals Study (1965), the Coleman Report--Equality of…

In a practical guide to program evaluation, many issues still facing this rapidly expanding profession are discussed. Strategies are suggested for overcoming difficulties and establishing a systematic and effective approach to the profession. The most appropriate methods for the different purposes of evaluation are pointed out, and procedures are…

The first two years of "Sesame Street" were evaluated as to their effectiveness as compensatory education. The evaluation assessed progress along some 36 primary goals of the show, as well as transfer effects, home background variables, parental attitudes, and socioeconomic status factors. Over 1,300 preschool children were tested, and…

An evaluation of the first year of "The Electric Company" is provided. Volume 1 is comprised of the following chapters: I. Introduction; II. Preparing for the Evaluation (Research Design and Sampling Procedures; Field Operations; The Treatment--the in-school viewing treatment, the at-home viewing treatment, and the content of The…

This plan for the longitudinal evaluation of a group of five different kinds of preschool programs involves a project conducted in a predominantly disadvantaged Australian community over the period 1975-79. Main project goals are (1) the determination of conditions under which particular preschool programs are most effective and (2) the evaluation…