NCJ Number
18251
Date Published
Unknown
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE PURPOSE OF EVALUATIVE RESEARCH, THE MAJOR AREAS IN WHICH EVALUATION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS IS NEEDED, AND THE VARIOUS METHODS OF EVALUATION RESEARCH ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IT IS STATED THAT THE PURPOSE OF EVALUATIVE RESEARCH IS TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE TO WHICH GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF ORGANIZATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE ACCOMPLISHED, AND TO ASSESS THE RELATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE VARIOUS ACTION COMPONENTS TO THE MEASURED OUTCOMES. DEFINITIONS AND USES OF PROCESS EVALUATION AND COST-BENEFIT OR OUTCOME ANALYSIS ARE DESCRIBED. IT IS NOTED THAT EVALUATION RESEARCH CAN BE CATEGORIZED INTO THREE MAJOR TYPES: THE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAM IMPACT AND EFFECTIVENESS (GOAL ACHIEVEMENT); THE ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAM STRATEGIES; AND THE ASSESSMENT OF MANAGERIAL AND OPERATING EFFICIENCY. SEVERAL ELEMENTS OF GOOD RESEARCH THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN EVALUATIONS ARE LISTED. THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF A CONTROLLED COMPARATIVE EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF EVALUATION IS OUTLINED AND THE USES OF IMPACT EVALUATION ARE DISCUSSED. FINALLY, A DISCUSSION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EVALUATION TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS PROVIDED.