Despite marked growth in evaluation use and capacity in the U.S. Federal Government over the last 50 years, the levers that have driven institutional change have not previously been identified. This ethnographic study mapped the process and factors that have led to the diffusion of value in evaluation in the U.S. Federal Government. Analyses of…

This paper sheds light on one of the key phases in the service contract of the international partnership between TBU in Saudi Arabia and George Washington University (GWU) in the US to develop a doctoral program of philosophy degree (PhD) in educational leadership and administration. The aim of the research was to evaluate the first workshop that…

This paper presents the results of a survey of 51 violence prevention programs around the country, including detailed case studies of a select sample, reviews of the evaluations of these programs, and recommendations for next steps to be explored during the conference. Part I discusses the survey of violence prevention programs. It describes a…

Outside evaluators of a writing program can assess the program's effectiveness, can support the work in a program that has become visible and subject to criticism, are easier to listen to than local faculty members, and can help clarify and resolve conflicting notions members of the department may have about the program's reason for being. First,…

Extension education evaluators are concerned about accounting for lack of control over and the value of describing environmental influences when assessing impact. Evaluability assessment (EA) identifies relationships between and describes external influences on program events. It provides information regarding clarity about goals and objectives…

An approach to enhancing program quality in educational institutions through program mapping is presented in this report. First, the objective of program mapping is specified as a means to evaluate and clarify the learning outcomes of a college's educational programs; and its use as a graphic representation of the interdependent relationships…

Several tools exist that school districts can use to help solve current or potential problems in compensatory programs. The school district should begin by conducting (1) a study to determine the extent to which students are served by multiple compensatory programs, (2) on-site observations of the programs, and (3) a review of the curriculum and…

The use of evaluation findings for program improvement and decision making was explored with the philosophy that different levels of information use occur--from altering perceptions of a program, to influencing major decisions about it. The strategy of deliberately involving potential information users such as clients, sponsors, and other…

In 1996, as part of the budget review process, Utah State University questioned the legitimacy of the outdoor recreation program in terms of student use, cost, and its role as part of the university mission. A task force was appointed to determine if the Outdoor Recreation Center should continue. This paper discusses program issues investigated by…

This paper is a report of the development of a systematic process for locating instructional design alumni and recruiting them to provide feedback from their workplaces. The purpose is to make alumni part of the process for program improvement. The process for tracking, contacting, and gathering data from alumni is described. In addition, the…

The various arts and sciences that comprise the field of program evaluation are discussed. It is argued that emphasis on rigor and expressive content has left other aspects of evaluation unexplored. Educational evaluators need to consider what programs mean and how they contribute to understanding. (SLD)

Described is a procedure (Audit Dress Rehearsal) used in a special education program audit consultation service which included a practice audit designed to lower anxiety and raise awareness of concern for program success. The introduction includes sections dealing with evaluation and audit personnel, planning and implementing an audit, and stages…

On July 24 and 25, 2012, members of the Task Force on Admissions in the 21st Century gathered in Reston, Virginia, to discuss the progress made by the implementation team in addressing action items from the Task Force's Preserving the Dream of America 2008 report; the current environment for admission; and actions to be taken to further the task…

This study is designed to document and evaluate how one program is attempting to transform a long established training model to meet current standards for training licensed professional counselors and for continuing program accreditation. A formative, or process, evaluation method has been implemented to evaluate and, simultaneously, to improve…

There is a need for assessment programs, systems, or processes that yield or provide meaningful and long lasting results within a athletic sport or program, enabling professionals as well as athletes to correctly ascertain the benefits of the experience for the students as well as areas which need strenthening or changing. This paper summarizes…