Based on a theoretical model of program development, this taxonomy of evaluation relates six evaluation objectives or purposes to nine methodological alternatives. Use of the taxonomy may increase the efficiency of evaluation, improve communication, and assist in the choice of a methodology that is appropriate to the evaluation purposes.…

Bibliographic references list 300 randomized field experiments undertaken to study programs in schools, hospitals, prisons, and other social settings. The bibliography provides evidence supporting the feasibility and the broad scope of randomized field tests conducted by economists, sociologists, psychologists, and educational researchers.…

Practical methods for implementing true experimental designs in evaluation settings in which such designs are rarely used are presented. Particular attention is paid to educational settings. (Author/JKS)

Data from the national evaluation of Project Follow Through were analyzed using analysis of covariance with and without correcting the pretest for unreliability. Such corrections led to some changes in conclusions. There are many disagreements in the literature about the appropriateness of correction for unreliability. (Author/CTM)

Four projects aimed at evaluating the technical quality of recent summative evaluations are discussed, and models of metaevaluation are presented. Common technical problems are identified and practical methods for solving these problems are outlined, but these methods are limited by the current state of the art. (Author/CTM)

This paper argues that program evaluation research should be broadened to deal systematically with the economics of resource use at the level of the individual social service delivery agency. The argument is strengthened by the recognition that input use can be established by the same methods used to measure service delivery. (Author/MV)

Claims made for case studies are analyzed, and some of the obstacles to using this kind of evaluation information are discussed. The analysis is based on evaluation of a federally funded project which combined the evaluation with attempts to use that information to help other schools. (Author/CTM)