Program staff participated in evaluating two school improvement programs of Research for Better Schools, Inc. They used evaluation information primarily to identify technical assistance needs and to modify the program. Increased use has resulted from improved communication, staff perceptions of evaluation relevance and credibility, and staff…

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…

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…

Assesses the value of the Government Printing Office's 1983 "Biennial Survey" as a tool to support depository library planning and decision making. The survey data are evaluated in terms of reliability, validity, and utility, and recommendations are offered for improving the design, administration, and analysis of the survey. (CLB)

Describes the development of INTERACT, a videotext system in which information and graphics were designed using a systematic multistage formative approach. The assessment of information needs is explained, and results of an evaluation completed after five weeks of operation in the student center at Syracuse University are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Results of evaluation research studies, even those that are meticulously designed and carefully executed, often are not implemented. This article examines some of the critical factors that mediate between the carrying out of evaluation research and the utilization of findings. To illustrate these factors, two case studies are analyzed. (Author/EGS)

Although the practice is commonplace, the techniques for evaluating principals and assistant principals vary across the country. Four of the most frequently used evaluation processes and procedures are examined, based on case studies of four school districts in Ohio, North Carolina, Idaho, and Alabama respectively. (Author/TE)

Suggests conventional evaluation reports are inappropriate for what needs to be portrayed for software users concerned with acquisition, software adaptation, design and development, and teacher implementation decisions. Two forms for evaluating information are described and illustrated--a narrative portrayal form and a design and development…

Ethical issues relating to naturalistic evaluation are addressed, focusing on the role of the evaluator, problems of privacy and data gathering techniques, and issues relating to the use/abuse of findings. Benefits and costs of the naturalistic approach to program evaluation are also identified. (EGS)

Drawing on current models for increasing the use of information from external evaluations, the authors offer a user-centered approach for increasing the use of results from internal evaluations of graduate medical education. The overriding emphasis of the user-centered approach is the utility of the resultant data. (Author/BW)

The purpose of this study was to identify the beliefs of Tennessee principals and teachers about the knowledge and skills required of leaders when using data to improve educational decision-making. Personal interviews were conducted with 10 principals and 10 teacher leaders certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.…

The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and the Teacher Followup Survey (TFS) have been administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in 1987-88, 1990-92, and 1993-95. The SASS is a large-scale survey of educational institutions in the United States. The TFS is conducted the year following the SASS to obtain more information…

This paper examines the relationship between high-school examinations and university expectations for a well-prepared student. Its purpose is to explore the alignment between state, standards-based assessment systems and the expectations students face once they undertake university studies. It uses a proven methodology for analyzing the congruence…

This document outlines the Western Assessment Collaborative's (WAC) approach to evaluation and the design for examining the progress and impact of Kyosei (spirit of cooperation), a multiyear partnership with 10 schools and 4 districts that engages participants in a set of integrated, research-based professional development strategies. The text…

This case study of testing in the Albuquerque public schools highlights improvement of test results dissemination and use through cooperative planning, integrated database development, and a partnership with public media. (Author)