A conceptual framework for considering the costs and benefits of postsecondary education assessment is presented, along with a typology linking the costs of evaluation to their informational benefits. A number of cost-analysis paradigms and techniques for assessing alternative evaluation projects at the institutional level are also examined. The…

Evaluation data are presented for the Open Door infant, toddler, and preschool programs (Las Cruces, New Mexico) for handicapped young children. Effects of intervention are reported in terms of learner gain for each child, mean gains for each child across developmental areas, mean gains for groups within each developmental area, subsequent…

A model is outlined that generates program costs and indicates the relative contribution of the various dimensions of a program to costs. The model says that there is no direct relationship between costs and learning, but that program (and school) parameters intervene. Some of these parameters have costs associated with them, but these are not…

This paper discusses the problems and benefits of conducting research in a small institution. Problems related to personnel, finances, expertise, and credibility, and advantages such as communication and cooperation are described. The University of Lethbridge has created a common data-gathering system, QAULTEP (Qualitative Analysis of the…

The paper focuses on the Title I Evaluation Technical Assistance Centers to illustrate issues of measuring costs and deciding on outcome criteria before promoting "cost-effective" approaches. Effects are illustrated for varying resource allocations among personnel, travel, materials, and phone costs as a function of emphasizing…

This paper describes a management system for secondary vocational education programs that is based on a cost-effectiveness analysis model. The model described was developed specifically for use in planning and evaluating secondary school vocational programs, although it might be applied to other educational programs as well. The model generates…

Intended for administrators, the paper reviews the current inadequacy of most state education agency monitoring of private special education programs and considers necessary elements in comprehensive monitoring. Basic challenges related to establishing a fiscal monitoring system are described, including the ability to differentiate quality from…

This paper discusses the development and implementation of a cost analysis model for use by curriculum planners and developers in evaluating educational programs. The paper consists of four major sections that focus in turn on the need to approach educational costs from a nontraditional perspective, development of a cost model, implementation of…

Levels of Use (LOU) interviews can be used for formative evaluation purposes in an intermediate education agency. Programs and services for training teachers provided to districts are evaluated. LOU interviews give program staff unique information for improving programs. Program improvement is aided by LOU interviews because information is…

Three studies identifying the characteristics of program submittals approved by the Joint Dissemintion Review Panel were examined. Between 1978-1985, 358 demonstration programs were submitted. For each of these years, between 51 percent and 83 percent of the submittals were approved. In this study, the submittals were reviewed on the basis of the…

Cost effectiveness of on-the-job training (OJT) can be determined by measures of effectiveness and by cost assessing the relationship between output and input. Defining effectiveness to be a measure of what an activity produces leaves two main groups of problems unresolved: hierarchies of effectiveness and multiple outcomes. The most significant…

A screening mechanism using objective data was developed to determine which of the nearly 60 different associate degree and diploma occupational programs offered by Gateway Technical Institute should be subjected to in-depth evaluation and at what frequency the evaluation should be conducted. Four factors for which objective data were available…

The major aim of this paper is to try to develop a cost analysis system model appropriate to the projects of the Center for Urban Education. Cost analysis can be viewed as an application of the economic concept of system analysis. The analysis always moves from a base that represents the existing capability and resources. The problem is to…

Surveys administered to 48 state student representatives and 46 chapter advisors attending the 1983 National Future Farmers of American (FFA) Conference on Community Development provided data about the Building Our American Communities Program (BOAC), which originated in 1970 as vocational agriculture's vehicle for high school level community…

The primary purpose of the Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD) Program Evaluation Process is to ensure curricular relevance, instructional quality and the effective and efficient use of resources. Developed and pilot-tested on 38 vocational-technical programs, the model is being utilized by more than 120 technical and community…