The potential for using case examples in the education of evaluators is paralleled to the legal case method of instruction currently used in the education of law students. Ways in which such cases are used in instruction are discussed. Types of information an evaluation case history might contain are then documented and the QUEMAC acronym is…

A model for the evaluator-policy maker relationship is presented for use by those responsible for conducting program evaluations which ultimately affect policy decisions. In this collegial model, power is invested equally in relevant research and program personnel. Characteristics of the model are described in terms of: (1) early contact with the…

Suggestions for broadening the utilization of evaluation research findings are discussed. Major program changes, based on evaluation, may not become obvious for several years; program actions may contradict findings and still be based on rational decision making processes; evaluation findings may have far-reaching effects which were not recognized…

This report describes the joint efforts of the Evaluation of Teaching program of the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education and the Office of Research and Evaluation of the Austin Independent School District to develop a competency based teacher evaluation system. The task assigned was to produce a system that reduced the vagueness…

With the theory that social and personal values influence the conduct of evaluation studies in education, the author discusses the impact of two major sources of such values--contextual factors, including political, social and organizational influences; and the terminology, models, and personal values of evaluators. Alternative purposes for an…

The issue raised by this paper is whether the site administrator needs to have formal evaluation skills. These skills are not necessary when there is a competent administrator and a competent evaluator who uses his or her skills within the context of a harmonious relationship with the school staff. However, the rarity of such a relationship,…

This review of the state of educational evaluation, which is directed to both those who produce and those who consume evaluation data, suggests that certain prevalent evaluation practices are seriously out of step with, and inappropriate for, current mainstream instructional activity. Evaluation is recommended as not merely an appendage to…

Measurement and evaluation have become major public issues in the legislatures and the courts. Testing legislation represents two extremes: (1) confidence in external objective measurement for high school teacher and occupational certification; and (2) distrust of the results. Since 1978, truth-in-testing bills for admissions or other standardized…

A formative goal-free evaluation was conducted to assess products (documents) developed after the first year of a federally funded project. Fifteen packets of sixty-six documents were rated by an external panel of five judges, using a checklist developed for the evaluation. An intermediary between the panel and the goal-free evaluator interviewed…

The judges usefulness and objectivity of a simulated evaluation report and client agreement with the report's recommendations were examined as functions of the evaluator's simulated professional background and the client's status, Apparently, source and audience characteristics influence client ratings of the evaluator but do not effect changes in…

Five ethical issues concerning evaluation studies are discussed: identification of the study's audiences, choices of variables and information sources, cost effectiveness of instrument and procedures, rights of subjects and program personnel to confidentiality, and relationships between the evaluator and program sponsors, participants, and…

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)

Bank's report of a long-term evaluation of the Bureau of Jewish Education, discussed in the previous article, is reviewed and commented on from the following points of views: (1) effects of local ecology on evaluation activities; (2) implications of the case study for the role and training of evaluators; and (3) unemphasized aspects of the case…

Answer keys for physician and teacher licensing examinations were studied. The impact of variability on total errors of measurement was examined for answer keys constructed using the aggregate method. Results indicated that, in some cases, scorers contributed to a sizable reduction in measurement error. (Author/GDC)

Using listening check procedures, only 2 of 21 staff members at a school for the hearing impaired reliably and accurately rated the performance of hearing aids, suggesting that educators of the hearing impaired are inadequately prepared to evaluate hearing aid performance and that a more objective means of assessment is needed. (Author/CB)