The issue of the perceived success of human services program evaluations is the specific focus of this paper. Five areas that affect the potential for producing effective program evaluation form a framework for discussing factors related to perceived success. The areas include inappropriate conceptualization of what an evaluation can accomplish,…

A common theme in the current spate of reports advocating reform of American schools has been the need for attaining the twin goals of "equity" and "excellence." Yet there is widespread disagreement, not only on the relationship of quality and equality, but on the acceptable meanings of these terms as well. James Coleman, (1969) in "The Concept of…

The discipline of discipline is the cornerstone upon which educators should build the other disciplines. Teaching responsibility for one's actions must stand beside the teaching of writing, reading, and arithmetic. Discipline cannot be mastered when stifled with negative reward systems and punishment. This paper describes a comprehensive…

This paper looks at nine states--California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Nebraska, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington--in an effort to find common themes in the processes and outcomes of post-divestiture state telecommunications policies. The possible consequences of current state policies are then discussed, and it is suggested that…

Policy makers use past experience and history to think about current and potential problems and to explain policies and problems to others. Decision makers may be overly influenced by significant personally-experienced events that loom so large in their eyes that details and related relevant information may pale in comparison. Deficiencies in…

A study examined the agenda setting and policy decision-making strategies utilized by independent public television producers to incorporate an independent production service into public broadcasting reauthorization legislation during the 100th Congress (1987-1988). Public policy analysis techniques from a political science perspective and…

The way in which intraorganizational context can influence strategy making is shown by comparing six Canadian universities formulating retrenchment strategies. "Strategy" involves the components of the strategy, the process by which strategy is made, and the context in which strategy is formed. A variety of university contexts are…

This paper summarizes the research and practice associated with the use of new information media and technology with Hispanic populations in the United States, and presents a case for making effective use of communications tools such as the microcomputer and videocassette recorders for improving the educational level and socioeconomic status of…

Possible causes for the rapid increase in the poverty rate from 1980 to 1982 were investigated, with two factors in particular being considered: the impact of the welfare program provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (OBRA), and the recessionary economy experienced during that year. The basic study design used a computer…

Prior work on organizational effectiveness and strategic management is applied to assessing the strategy and effectiveness of higher education systems. It is suggested that like organizations, systems need to address three kinds of effectiveness: goal achievement, resource acquisition, and constituent satisfaction. Both organizations and systems…

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new, synthetic paradigm for debate analysis and decision making that features the policy systems approach within a context of values as boundaries for decision. As background for the proposed theory, the paper (1) summarizes the notions of paradigm formation and shifts initially presented by T. Kuhn; (2)…

For homework to be effective, a clear, written policy should be developed that considers local needs, sound educational theories, and current research. This handbook is intended to assist school districts, particularly in Pennsylvania, in planning, developing, and implementing homework policies and guidelines. The booklet first briefly reviews the…

The rise in costs of health care has led to a public questioning of a large number of elements of health services, health care financing, and clinical medicine. The assumption of a relationship between the nation's health and national expenditures for health appears to be of questionable validity. (Editor/PG)

Author suggested that we need to know more about the nature, extent, and distribution of youth patterns to which the Coleman report addresses itself and that we want to look more closely at the political feasibility of its suggested remedies. (Author/RK)

Author questioned the Coleman Report and zeroed in on the peculiar contradiction s between the specific analyses of the life circumstances of young people and the report's general diagnosis and recommendations. (Editor/RK)