Examines the effects of the Bonner Scholars Program, a stipended college service program, that focuses on the development of community service ethics. Discusses the results of the study on the program's effectiveness for 265 students from 9 colleges and universities in the midwest and south. (SWM)

Applies Lev Vygotsky's concept of developmental learning to youth-led evaluation projects and discusses the role of participatory evaluation in supporting youth to move beyond socially determined roles to become active participants in evaluation and their own growth. (SLD)

The seven articles in this issue represent an approach to multisite evaluation that has much in common with the tradition of clinical trials. However, this approach shares with cluster evaluation an appreciation for the adjustments that are necessary to reflect the realities of conducting evaluation research in actual service settings. (Author/SLD)

Describes a utilization-focused evaluation "gone awry" when two of the primary intended users left the program and were replaced. Discussion centers on the potential choices for use when intended users are no longer part of an evaluation. (SLD)

Reflections on the many strands of feminist thinking offered in this volume underscore a common commitment to the well-being of women, and thereby of men. Charts directions for continuing the conversation. (SLD)

Evaluates Palm Beach County School District's Safe School Center tutorial program, a summer-school program for middle-school students who failed subjects during the academic year. Describes program successes, failures, and lessons learned. (Contains 38 references.) (PKP)

Examines the theoretical foundations of the belief that stakeholder involvement empowers the stakeholders and increases evaluation utilization and the validity of the evaluation. Discusses conditions under which these benefits are realized and situations in which they are not. (SLD)

Discusses the sources and signs of excessive evaluation anxiety in program evaluation and provides some strategies to help evaluators prevent and manage this common problem. Shows how more than technical skills are required to conduct high quality program evaluation. (SLD)

Proposes a method for synthesizing findings within mixed-method program evaluations. The proposed method uses a set of criteria and analytic techniques to assess the worth of each data source or type and to establish what each says about program effect. Once data are on a common scale, simple mathematics allows synthesis across data sources or…

Describes the number needed to treat (NNT) as an indicator of a program's efficacy. L'Abbe plots compare several programs in terms of the event rates that constitute the NNTs. Explains how an evaluator may extend the NNT concept by calculating and plotting event rates on a continuous ordinal basis. (SLD)

The role of the evaluator in insuring utilization and quality of evaluation results is discussed. Topics covered include a utilization-focused vision of accountability, overcoming staff fears of evaluation, eliciting the right information from users, situational responsiveness, and advocacy. (TJH)

A modification of Donald Kirkpatrick's model suggests use of a training-impact tree to identify variables that could establish links between training and organizational values. Steps include identifying organizational values and practices; identifying skills, knowledge, and attitudes; defining scope and purpose of evaluation; gathering data; and…

Presents, in light-hearted way, a few rules of evaluation practice wisdom that, if followed, would result in more rigorous and useful evaluations of human services programs. Although none of the ideas is totally original, it is suggested that as a group they provide handy checklist for practitioners who are developing or assessing evaluation…

A task force was set up to develop a system of evaluating community-based, nonprofit organizations that were members of the Rockford, Illinois, United Way. The task force experimented with participatory evaluation, which resulted in an action plan for the groups. (JOW)

An experienced volunteer discusses the importance of volunteer evaluation and encourages volunteer administrators to consider their policy of volunteer evaluations from a volunteer's point of view. (JOW)