It is argued that the role of the evaluator is fluid and subject to unpredictable change over time. Two key principles from systems theory support the above: (1) the definition of an organization as an open system, and (2) the self-regulatory or cybernetic nature of systems. Actual experiences are drawn upon to describe that interrupted the…

The second of three documents of a project designed to help North Carolina counties plan community based status offender programs presents a general planning model. An overview traces five steps of the planning decision process, from determining the importance of status offender needs to the county to making program funding decisions based on…

The manual, the first of 16 documents on the accreditation program conducted by the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped, presents a step-by-step account of the accreditation process. Covered are such aspects as the preparation of the statement of philosophy of service, suggestions for doing the…

This report describes the methodology and summarizes the findings from field research conducted in four school districts during 1978-79 on inschool alternatives to suspension programs. Data were collected on program history, philosophy, structure, operational characteristics, student characteristics, and program impact. Methods used included…

The paper describes and evaluates Disability Awareness Day (DAD), an activity at Indiana University designed to raise the awareness of the participants to the disabled community and strengthen the University's commitment to the disabled community. During the day four films were shown and disability simulations of the following handicapping…

TEACHERS, SUPERVISORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS OF VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS SHOULD DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SOUND PHILOSOPHY OF CONTINUING EVALUATION AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON PROGRAM RESULTS AND KINDS OF ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED PRIOR TO THE MANDATORY NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL EVALUATIONS. SIXTEEN GUIDING…

PROJECT AND PROGRAM EVALUATION REPRESENT TWO BROAD STRATEGIES FOR EVALUATION. PRODUCT EVALUATION OF A PROJECT DETERMINES THE EXTENT TO WHICH OBJECTIVES ARE ACHIEVED. THE EVALUATOR'S ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON CHANGE IN THE TARGET PUPIL OR SCHOOL ON A PRE-PROJECT TO A POST-PROJECT BASIS. IN THEIR EVALUATION OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION…

THE AUTHOR DEFINES INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AS A METHODICAL STUDY OF PROBLEMS, AND AN ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS AND UTILIZE THE RESULTS OF A STUDY. HE STATES THAT--(1) A RE-EVALUATION OF CONCEPTS, ASSUMPTIONS AND STRATEGIES OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH IS NECESSARY, (2) INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCHERS SHOULD NOT ONLY FIND ANSWERS BUT ALSO CRITICIZE…

THE RECENT PROLIFERATION OF FEDERAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN EDUCATION HAS BROUGHT AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR CAREFULLY PLANNED, FORMAL EVALUATION AT BOTH THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. IN ORDER TO AID LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE COMPLEX WORK OF EVALUATION OF TITLE I AND OTHER SPECIAL EDUCATION PROJECTS, THIS GUIDE HAS BEEN PREPARED. IT PRESENTS IN WORKBOOK…

The literature on program evaluation contains numerous suggestions that evaluative information is frequently underutilized or inappropriately utilized by administrators. This paper reviews the literature on utilization with a view toward identifying workable strategies for optimizing appropriate use. Specific recommendations to evaluators include…

Some of the most important evaluation questions cannot be answered through experimental research. The "assessment" of the St. Louis Leadership Program (SLLP), sponsored by the Danforth Foundations, is used as an illustration of a "connoisseur-based study" approach to evaluation. The project team, given limited time and funds, decided that it could…

The framework developed in this study is designed to detail the information needs of an evaluation situation, that is, information of any kind that might aid in determining the merit or worth of the program under consideration. More than 200 subcategories of information needs, tailored to instructional programs at the local level, are included in…

This report presents the findings and conclusions from the first phase of a two-phase study of education and work councils (community organizations of business leaders, school officials, and representatives of other institutions, formed to ease the transition of youths from school to work). The report describes the education and work councils…

This paper provides a model for five-page, self-evaluation reports to be used by projects funded by the New York State Education Department. This five-page model is proposed as an alternative to bulky, time-consuming documents that often suffer from "mismatch, mismanagement, and miscalculation." The report preview explains how to avoid…

Three types of explanation in evaluation are discussed: causal explanations, explanations of actions, and explanations of value judgments. The role and importance of each form is addressed, as are alternate approaches to providing such explanation. The concept of explanation is defined as anything said or done to help someone understand something.…