NCJ Number
16488
Date Published
1971
Length
158 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSES THE PLANNING-PROGRAMMING-BUDGETING SYSTEM APPROACH TO HUMAN SERVICES AND DISCUSSES STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING MORE EFFECTIVE SOCIAL SERVICES.
Abstract
THE PROBLEMS OF MEASURING THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS ARE DELINEATED. IMPROVED EFFORTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING PROGRAMS ARE RECOMMENDED. LONGITUDINAL INFORMATION AND THE APPLICATION OF MORE SOPHISTICATED STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES ARE URGED. THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE PROS AND CONS OF RANDOM INNOVATION, A STRATEGY IN WHICH INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES OR INSTITUTIONS TRY NEW APPROACHES. SYSTEMATIC EXPERIMENTATION IS URGED IN THE INTEREST OF STRUCTURING PROGRAMS WITH CLEAR PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND REPLICABILITY. THE PROBLEMS AND IMPORTANCE OF DETERMINING PERFORMANCE MEASURES ARE TREATED.