Summarizes the chapters of this theme issue on youth participatory evaluation. The overarching theme from this collection is the shift from a focus on youth as defective to a view of youth as assets in community development. (SLD)

Studied the developmental impact of the National Literacy Mission of India, providing an evaluative account based on 97 evaluation studies. Compared findings with those from a 27-study synthesis of studies of effects of adult literacy efforts in Africa. Findings show the impact of literacy on the development of nations. (SLD)

Effectiveness of Responding In Peaceful and Positive Ways (RIPP) was evaluated in rural schools serving an ethnically diverse student population. Although results were not consistent across all measures and time points, several significant intervention effects were found on self-report measures of aggression, victimization, life satisfaction, and…

This book is written for program administrators who want to become familiar with program evaluation methods. Outcome-based evaluation is defined as a form of program evaluation that uses objective person-referenced outcomes (measuring the functional level and social roles of program clients) to analyze effectiveness, impact, or costs and benefits.…

Parsons describes benefits and limitations of using financial analysis tools to evaluate human resource development programs, suggesting the additional dimension of values. Brinkerhoff's reaction emphasizes the flaws of impact evaluation, suggesting ways to reframe training evaluation. (SK)

Outlines a scenario in which an evaluator wants to ask questions of teenagers that may pose ethical problems, or may be perceived as posing such problems. The hypothetical situation is the evaluation of a life skills program aimed at reducing the teen birth rate. (SLD)

Describes how assessment is tied tightly to program development at Bowdoin College, with assessment criteria set up during the process of faculty members' seeking funding for research or curriculum innovation. Uses the example of innovations in an introductory biology course to illustrate the process. (EV)

Provides brief definitions of assessment, evaluation, and research and describes strategies for integrating and managing assessment and research activities for a large education technology development project. Provides examples of tools used to develop and manage a comprehensive assessment and research plan in a large technology integration…

Makes the case that responsiveness is a virtue, in evaluation as in everyday life, rather than merely a methodological tool for use in evaluation. Extends this concept using ideas from the Aristotelian tradition of practical philosophy as elaborated in recent works on hermeneutic philosophy. (SLD)

Among the reasons why training and development fail are lack of alignment with needs, failure to recognize nontraining solutions, lack of objectives, expensive solutions, lack of accountability for results, failure to prepare for transfer, lack of management support, failure to isolate the effects of training, lack of executive commitment and…

Addresses the role of evaluation, the basic logic of evaluation, and how the field of evaluation is structured. Focuses on evaluation in applied psychology, and describes the six conventional fields of evaluation. (SLD)

Ohio Teen B.R.I.D.G.E.S (Building Responsibility In teen Drivers through Growth in self-Esteem and Safety) was evaluated using 12 focus groups. Program impacts included heightened awareness of vehicular safety issues among teens and communities, enhanced public speaking for youth volunteers, and meaningful leadership and volunteer opportunities…

Explains the rationale underlying the State University of New York (SUNY) Assessment Initiative (a systemwide assessment of general education and academic majors), describes specific procedures and processes involved in implementation, and provides a preliminary report on its status. (EV)

Describes how the first evaluation practitioner for the American Cancer Society (ACS) came to do evaluation capacity building (ECB) because of the need for evaluation following changes in the organizational structure. Provides a brief history of these changes as a background for understanding the seven principles of ECB at the ACS. (Author/SLD)

Uses the psychological lens of motivation to make the case that mandated evaluation requirements can serve as the impetus for accountability to become synonymous with organizational improvement. Illustrates the discussion with examples from the Manitoba (Canada) School Improvement Program. (SLD)