2011 is the 25th anniversary of the American Evaluation Association. Such occasions are often recognized both by looking back to assess and celebrate accomplishments of the past and by looking ahead to anticipate the problems and potential of the future. In the past 25 years, the profession of evaluation has experienced rapid, ubiquitous growth,…

Written in response to George Fairweather's position concerning the use of experimental studies in evaluation, this paper highlights considerations in deciding when experimental procedures are feasible. The current debate on the use of experimental methods in evaluation is reviewed. (Author/GK)

A framework of contextual variables is described that comprises the context of investigation of any evaluation study. Examples from cross-cultural evaluation are used to illustrate the elements of this framework: (1) setting; (2) topic; and (3) design. The framework is useful for evaluation training and planning. (SLD)

In spite of the scarcity of empirical studies of evaluation, such studies are critical to development of evaluation theory. Illustrative examples are given of studies of evaluation practice that operationalize theory. Although practitioners should continue public reflection, they must also focus on the independent and empirical study of…

Because of declining school budgets and the general economic recession, educational evaluators have become increasingly interested in cost-analysis methods. Although there is a large body of literature on economic and cost-analysis procedures, there are no current bibliographies targeted at the use of cost methods in program evaluation. This…

Proposals satisfy a number of functions in evaluation work. This article examines how these functions differ depending on whether the proposal concerns a preordinate study in which methods are prespecified or an emergent study in which decisions about methods are made as the study proceeds. (Author/SLD)

Project "vita" (similar to the individual's professional vita) is proposed as a documentation technique for providing detailed but manageable descriptions of large research and development projects. Two field trials, projects to develop new evaluation methods and technology for storage and retrieval of full-text material, illustrate use…

The Research on Evaluation Program's National Advisory Panel recommended that a means of matching evaluation methods with evaluation purposes be developed and that it include a guide to major Program publications. Practitioners in the field have also requested support on how to approach the evaluation design process to permit the incorporation of…

Path analysis, a technique related to multiple regression analysis is used for ascribing causal relationships among variables. Path analysis involves the construction of explicitly formulated causal models and makes the reasoning explicit in the form of path diagrams and structural equations. Regression analysis is then used to construct path…

The extent to which the Joint Committee "Standards" for evaluation might be used to develop culturally relevant standards for use in other countries and how they might be modified for use in cross-cultural settings were explored using Malta and India as examples. Substantial modifications are probably necessary. (SLD)