Determined general and specific processes of program approval and program review found in 50 states and 8 foreign countries. Defines models that depict these procedures and discusses strengths and weaknesses of each. Suggests alternatives to current practices by U.S. state agencies. (SLD)

Investigates the prevalence of reading incentive programs as they are implemented in elementary schools. Reviews the conditions that must be present to motivate literacy engagement. Finds that reading incentive programs are widely used and may violate important principles of motivation theory and literacy engagement. (NH)

An alternative learning program was designed to develop self-esteem and social skills in at-risk youth (n=32). Significant increases in self-regulation and learning could be attributed to small class sizes and individualized instruction. (SK)

Provides an initial evaluation of the community camp approach to drug detoxification and rehabilitation utilized in China. Open-ended interviewing schedules were given to two samples from two government sponsored rehabilitation community camps in 1994. Results show that in the two community camps, an average of twelve months' training yielded a…

Proposes a framework for characterizing evaluation approaches that consists of the following aspects: context, purpose and social role, phenomena of interest, procedural rules, methods of justification, and sanctions. Illustrates the framework through its application to the debate over the theory and practice of empowerment evaluation. (SLD)

This interview focuses on usability testing, one method for evaluating whether library Web sites are useful for users. Discussion includes: benefits and drawbacks of usability testing; why it is important; lessons learned from testing; advice for someone interested in doing a study; and recommendations. (AEF)

Examined the feasibility of integrating children with mild disabilities into mainstream preschool centers in Singapore. Results after nine months of implementation found positive effects for the children, both disabled and nondisabled, their parents, and teachers. (Author/KB)

Shows how one can combine a large-scale planned variation experimental design and multilevel analysis to address research questions that go beyond the issue of overall treatment effectiveness. Uses data from a simulated field experiment to describe the multilevel models that can be used. (SLD)

Describes the use of the program logic model as an integrative framework in the multimethod evaluation of a middle school curriculum delivery program. Shows how the logic model was used to focus data collection, organize data, and interpret the data in an integrative framework. Focuses on the area of computer skills to illustrate the usefulness of…

The three articles of this special section illustrate the complexity of HIV risk behaviors and demonstrate the need to go beyond simply assessing drug use and sexual behavior. They support a more comprehensive view of risk that challenges intervention design and current methodology. (SLD)

Conducted a 2-year longitudinal study of the efforts of one school district to link site-based collaborative evaluation with formal, centralized program evaluation for its 17 middle schools. Participants formed a research team with a university. Analysis of plans at the end of the evaluation cycle shows that collaborative evaluation is creating a…

Assesses parents, students, and program leaders involved in an in-school drug prevention program for their perceptions of the efficacy of the program. Feedback indicated a very high program satisfaction level from respondents with parents indicating the highest level satisfaction. Areas for improvement included parent attendance; invitation…

A social marketing media campaign, based on a normative social influence model and focused on normative messages regarding binge drinking, has yielded positive preliminary results of an overall 29.2 percent decrease in binge drinking rates over a three-year period. Two surveys provided information on student knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors…

Reviews the Portage Guide to Early Intervention, a program in which teachers instruct mothers in their homes in an effort to help promote the development of young children with developmental delays. Since multiple factors precluded an appropriate evaluation of the guide's effects, professionals are encouraged to be conservative when discussing the…

Analyzed data from a cross-site evaluation of 24 federally funded residential treatment projects for substance-abusing pregnant and postpartum women with children. Found benefits at 6 months of treatment included improvements in infant mortality and morbidity, treatment retention and completion rates, and behavioral changes in participating…