Abt Associates, the firm responsible for the primary analysis of the Follow Through experiment, summarize the findings. Their clearest finding indicates that local circumstances, attitudes, and activities unmeasured by evaluation have much more to do with the effectiveness of Follow Through models, without exception, than do their theoretical…

Interpretations point up the fact that research-oriented evaluation, aiming at estimation of program effects on specific test outcome measures, is capable of illuminating only part of the value of a complex social program like Follow Through. (Author/MLF)

Six deficits of this model are discussed: disparity in proponent prowess, fallible arbiters, excessive confidence in the model's potency, difficulties in framing the proposition in a manner amenable to adversary resolution, "a cat's-paw for biased decision makers," and, excessive costs. (Author/JM)

Describes the vocational education program evaluation model used in the Dallas County Community College District. Examines each phase (i.e., data collection, program analysis, and cross-comparisons of programs) of a process which concludes with a districtwide summative evaluation. Explains how the model can be used in single-campus colleges. (DMM)

Describes how two methodologies for analyzing and improving performance--performance engineering and organization mapping--were used in a case study involving the purchasing department of an electric utility. Highlights include the establishment of a model of the desired results, measuring existing performance, and the designing of an improvement…

An evaluation paradigm which describes interagency coordination as a multidimensional (climate, resources, policies, people, and process), interactional, and developmental effort is presented for use in special education as a: training tool for those involved in coordination efforts; guide for developing and evaluating interagency coordination…

The article presents a cooperative interagency approach for assessing effectiveness of programs and services to facilitate the transition of handicapped students from school to adult community living. Features of the model include cooperative planning at the policy level, implementation level, and direct service level; and collaboration by state…

Program theory can be used to improve programs and policies. This article describes a set of techniques for complicating and simplifying program theory, referred to as conceptual and action heuristics. Methods such as analyzing metaphors, clarifying concepts, mapping, component assessment, causal modeling, and decision analysis are discussed. (JAZ)

Eight school districts assessed the applicability of a total of four evaluation models: Massachusetts Special Education Programs Evaluation Model, California Statewide Cooperative Program Evaluation Model for Special Education Programs, Systems Framework for Special Education Program Evaluation, and SPEED/SMA (Special Education Total Program…

Discusses theory underlying a developmental life-span adult career counseling center, summarizes a case which illustrates the developmental life-span model, and presents findings from an on-going formative evaluation study conducted at the University of Rochester Adult Counseling Center. (NB)

The value and limitations of conceptualizing evaluation as a decision-oriented research and appraisal activity is discussed. The decisional contexts of evaluation projects is examined in terms of a comparison between two models of organization decision making. Certain remedies for problems arising from attempts to enhance decisional relevance of…

This article describes procedures for evaluating an instructional packet of teaching materials entitled "Preparing for Supervised Occupational Experience Placement Programs." Among the objectives was to measure the value of instructional materials and to assess the construction of instruments for quantifying these criteria. (Author/CT)

Lakatos's methodology of scientific research programs is summarized and discussed for Piagetian schools and alternative conceptions movement. Commonalities/differences between these two rival programs are presented along with fundamental assumptions, auxiliary hypotheses, and research policy. Suggests that research findings should not be merely…

Impact studies of program evaluation overlook important issues: (1) differences between objective and perceived effectiveness of public programs; (2) role of media; and (3) factors such as elites and program characteristics in program perception. A conceptual framework of the major factors which influence public perceptions of program…

A model for systematic, formative, and participatory self-evaluation of teacher training programs is presented and analyzed, and the conditions for its successful application are outlined. (MSE)