NCJ Number
15526
Journal
Social Work Volume: 19 Issue: 6 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1974) Pages: 682-687
Date Published
1974
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THEORY THAT THE EVALUATION OF PROGRAM PROCESSES, INSTEAD OF PROGRAM OUTCOME BETTER MEETS THE NEEDS OF POLICYMAKERS SINCE IT EXPLAINS WHY AND HOW THESE OUTCOMES OCCURRED.
Abstract
EVALUATING PROGRAM OUTCOME PROVIDES THE VERIFICATION THAT PLANNERS AND POLICY-MAKERS NEED TO DECIDE A PROGRAM'S FUTURE. HOWEVER, FACTORS SUCH AS MULTIPLE INTERVENTIONS, ALTERED CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS, PROGRAM CHANGE IN MIDSTREAM, AND CONFUSION ABOUT THE POSSIBLE INFLUENCE OF THE EVALUATION EFFORT TEND TO AFFECT THE RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTAL OUTCOME EVALUATIONS, ALSO INFORMATION CONCERNING PROGRAM SUCCESS OR FAILURE OFTEN ARRIVES TOO LATE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ADMINISTRATORS, CLIENTS, AND STAFF, EVALUATING PROGRAM PROCESS LEADS TO THE DISCOVERY OF FACTS THAT EXPLAIN OUTCOMES, MAKE GOALS SPECIFIC, AND IMPROVE DELIVERY OF SERVICE. A PROCESS-FOCUSED QUALITATIVE EVALUATION APPROACH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. ITS FIVE COMPONENTS INCLUDE SUBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT, CONSULTATION AND FEEDBACK, DEBRIEFING, AND PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION.