Realist evaluations, a form of theory-driven evaluation, aim to explain how, why, for whom, and to what extent a complex health intervention works (or does not work). Realist evaluations are often "methods-flexible" and encourage the appropriate use of a range of evidence types that provide explanatory value. However, there is a lack of…

Evaluation competency frameworks across the globe regard evaluation approaches as important to know and use in practice. Prior classifications have been developed to aid in understanding important differences among varying approaches. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity for a new classification of evaluation approaches, in particular one that is…

Each year, the existing cohort of elementary teachers at The American School participate in a professional development program. This program includes both academic and social adaptation resources and support for teachers within the school community. Previous to this research study, the program mostly included training on academic programs,…

This paper describes how a locally developed school ranking system affected student enrolment patterns in British Columbia over time. In developing an annual school "report card" that was published in newspapers and online, the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute created a marketplace for school choice by devising an accountability scheme…

This article explores teachers' assessment knowledge and practice through a narrative inquiry of a college EFL teacher, Betty (pseudonym), in the People's Republic of China. Drawing on Crites' (1971) notions of "sacred stories" and "secret stories" in teachers' professional knowledge landscapes (Connelly & Clandinin, 1995),…

A model for the evaluator-policy maker relationship is presented for use by those responsible for conducting program evaluations which ultimately affect policy decisions. In this collegial model, power is invested equally in relevant research and program personnel. Characteristics of the model are described in terms of: (1) early contact with the…

Five papers and an introduction discuss internal evaluation (IE), concentrating on the various sources of authority for IE and ways of enhancing IE authority. The roles of internal evaluators, conflicts in the evaluation process, and evaluation in a state education agency are reviewed. (SLD)

Before citizen participation in administrative decision-making can be evaluated in a way that is both rigorous and relevant to policy development, there must be some minimal consensus among evaluators and policy-makers concerning the types of questions that should be asked and the methodologies that should be used. This document consists of edited…

As funds for supporting library and information services dwindle, librarians are beginning to recognize the value of evaluating and justifying their library in terms that the decision makers--those who control the budgets--understand. This book offers proven techniques for implementing a program that both promotes information services and dispels…

In this paper, Sonia Nieto develops the thesis that teaching is political work, by showing how issues of power and privilege are involved in all aspects of education--from classroom practices to infrastructure, from testing issues to decisions about curriculum. At the center of the educational process stands the teacher, and teachers can make a…

The study presents the results of testing an original obersvation instrument designed to identify a power elite in multiple sessions of two eight-member adult discussion groups. Two questions guided the development of the study: (1) Can a power elite be identified in participation training groups? (2) Can an effective observation instrument with…

An approach to assess organizational change within the university is considered. The research approach was designed to use the strength of the university to examine and document an organizational change that evolved over time and resulted in unplanned outcomes is described. Important decisions that influenced the design of the survey instrument…

A case study of the Colleges of the State University of New York at Buffalo is presented to analyze the problem of change in higher education and the role played by a theory of change. A brief sketch of the history of the Colleges from the beginning to the end of the 1970s is presented to provide a context for a discussion of strategy of change.…

THIS NATIONAL TRAINING LABORATORIES (NTL) CONFERENCE, DEPARTING SOMEWHAT FROM ITS USUAL EXPERIENCE-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS, FOCUSED LABORATORY TRAINING METHODS ON THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN URBAN COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING. THE CONFERENCE PRESENTED THEORY, INFORMATION, AND OPINION ON THE NATURE OF CITIES AND THEIR DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES.…