This paper presents reflections and reconsiderations of notions about educational criticism. Several issues about the process of educational criticism need to be explored: (1) the metaphor of criticism; (2) exemplifying and elaborating methods for criticism; and (3) exploring the critic's role. (CJ)

Evaluation utilization/use is discussed with the concept of user rationality (including examples where the rational use of evaluation results may be unclear or may be nonuse). A current project focuses on studying the process of evaluation information use and on validating a theory of use. (Author/LC)

Unclear professional norms create problems of role conflict for program evaluators. Four circumstances that produce role conflict and suggestions for dealing with each one are examined. The influence of organizational context on role conflicts is also considered. (Author)

Guidelines are presented for the evaluation of college administrators: (1) purposes of the evaluation; (2) approaches to evaluation; (3) criteria for evaluation; (4) participants or evaluators in the process; and (5) evaluation results and use of results. (GDC)

Discussed the State of Colorado's introduction of performance contracting into its relationships with community mental health centers. Describes the nature of the contract and its implementation. Particular emphasis is placed on the implications of the contract for program evaluation. (Author)

Evaluators can convey what Polanyi calls propositional knowledge by explicitly stating technical information. To express the residue left unsaid (ineffable knowledge), skillful use of anecdote, analogy and metaphor is needed. The audience must feel they have shared the evaluator's experience. (CP)

Good evaluation shares much with good teaching. What makes an evaluation useful can depend on qualities of teaching brought to the evaluator's role. (Available from: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 433 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104, single issue, $6.95.) (Author)

Faculty committees wrote educational objectives for all 23 courses in their undergraduate medical school curriculum. The objectives were used for evaluation of curriculum, student knowledge, and attitudes. (CP)

Describes a study conducted to assess the quality of institutional self-evaluation as perceived by accreditation team members visiting 11 Arizona high schools during 1978-1979. The effect of consultative assistance on school self-evaluations and the different perceptions of public school and university team members are examined. (JP)

Establishing evaluation objectives requires formal, frequent, and extensive interaction among program evaluators and administrators to obtain from administrators the information necessary to make the most effective choices in planning and carrying out evaluations. Three techniques are described that can be used to ensure that this interaction is…

Briefly describes several styles of evaluation and expands on selected issues that can arise between advisors, administrators, and researchers working in the area of evaluation. (Author/IRT)

The lack of utilization of evaluation studies is criticized. It is suggested that program directors be asked to submit proposals to evaluators which will demonstrate that the directors are competent to utilize the information provided and to assess the quality of the evaluation. (JKS)

Transactional evaluation is discussed in the perspective of "The New Rhetoric: A Treatise on Argumentation" by Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca. It is described as a procedure for facilitating change by encouraging all persons who might be affected by a new program to participate in its evaluation. (CTM)

Increased academic standards in midwifery education are causing conflict between research-based and traditional knowledge used in clinical assessments. Training of evaluators, frequent changes in clinical placements, and lack of contact between students and evaluators also impinge on the validity and reliability of assessments. (SK)

The evaluation course content of graduate programs in public affairs and administration programs was studied with 140 master's degree programs. Most (85%) programs provide at least one evaluation course, and evaluation is a core requirement in 49%. Courses are more likely to focus on outcomes and policy impact than management. (SLD)