This evaluation plan outlines the essential features of Home Start Evaluation activities scheduled for the twelve months beginning Fall 1973. Data will be collected in an effort to answer the following four questions: (1) Are Home Start program guidelines being followed in the kinds of families and staff involved?, (2) Do families in Home Start…

Conclusions reached after three years of performance contracting experience and materials with which to judge the validity of the conclusions are presented in this overview of performance contracting. The conclusions are: (1) commercial firms are no better at teaching children than are public schools; (2) commercial firms expend as much or more…

Despite the success of some antipoverty programs, it is not evident that conditions in poverty areas have improved; in fact, some indicators show that living conditions in the slums are worsening. One of the biggest difficulties is a lack of data on the nature of, and solutions to, the problems of these areas. Frequently revised data at least as…

Results of a survey undertaken to provide data about proprietary schools, their students, and their programs are presented. All proprietary schools in four metropolitan areas of the United States which trained students in four selected occupational areas were surveyed. Included for comparison purposes were non-proprietary schools offering…

The government attempted to set up a viable management information and feedback system for evaluating accountability in services delivery. Conceptual models for agency goals and services delivery were designed and measures were developed in the provision of leisure and recreational services. Two citizen surveys are described. (Author/CTM)

Five major classes of information are identified as necessary in a comprehensive evaluation of an educational enterprise: (1) initial status of the learner; (2) learner performance after a period of treatment; (3) program implementation; (4) costs; and (5) supplemental information. Each class of information is presented and discussed in detail,…

A performance evaluation model is presented to address the need for measuring the effectiveness of educational training programs in institutions of higher learning. The model emphasizes outcomes by assessing the quality of change that occurs in individual and program performance. (Author/LMO)

The potential effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) as a medium to provide continuing pharmaceutical education was evaluated. Assessment of educational needs, development of a CAI program and a criterion-referenced test, and evaluation instrument to determine the effectiveness of CAI continuing education are discussed. (Author/MLW)

This book uses an extended case study to guide readers through the complexities of evaluating service learning outcomes and their relevance to the curriculum. Eight chapters include: (1) "What Is Service Learning?" (e.g., definition and rationale, developing a service learning program, and standards for effective programs); (2) "The…

Explains the relationship of two Public Library Association publications concerning measurement of public library service: "Performance Measures for Public Libraries" (1973) and "Output Measures for Public Libraries: A Manual for Standardized Procedures" (1982). The importance of data collection methods is noted in discussing…

A case history is presented that recounts the evolutionary development of a unified evaluation, budgeting, and planning system at Michigan State University. It is a system that is strongly based on the collection and analysis of department, college, and institutional data. (Author/MLW)

The ultimate goal of continuing education programs is to bring about improvement in health education. Evaluations of these programs rarely indicate significant change. Problems with evaluations and with continuing education programs are discussed. (JN)

Factors involved in pre-planned and post-planned evaluation of program effectiveness are compared: (1) reliability and cost of data; (2) internal and external validity; (3) obtrusiveness and threat; (4) goal displacement and program direction. A model to help program administrators decide which approach is more appropriate is presented. (Author/MH)

Strasser and Deniston's own analysis (TM 504 254) shows that post-planned evaluations are unsuitable substitutes for pre-planned evaluations. When viewed as post-experimental interviews, however, post-planned evaluations can produce valuable information which complements traditional experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations. (MH)