Good evaluation requires that evaluation efforts themselves be evaluated. Many things can and often do go wrong in evaluation work. Accordingly, it is necessary to check evaluations for problems such as bias, technical error, administrative difficulties, and misuse. Such checks are needed both to improve ongoing evaluation activities and to assess…

The Standards for Evaluations of Educational Programs, Projects, and Materials was published in 1980 by the McGraw-Hill Company. Three sections of this article discuss major issues related to the development of the Standards, its content and form, and the work planned for its application and future development. (Author/RL)

The Michigan accountability system, based on statewide objectives-referenced testing at two grade levels generated considerable controversy, including this response to criticisms of an evaluation of the program by a panel of three persons. The contract under which the evaluation was performed is quoted to show that the authors of the report were…

Advocates and presents an illustrative structure for interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs in evaluation. Posits that the introduction of such programs will give prospective students options through which they can gain the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to conduct evaluations. Describes the interdisciplinary evaluation program at Western…

This report submitted by Advocate Team No. 1 to the U.S. Office of Education, Division of Research and Development Resources (formerly Division of Manpower and Institutions) presents a proposed evaluation system for R&D institutions and programs. It includes: (1) an organizational framework within which the evaluation system could function; (2)…

On behalf of the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation, the author reviews the Committee's recent efforts and discusses the needs for further work related to the "Standards for Evaluations of Educational Programs, Projects, and Materials." The Committee has developed a program to guide its work. The program addresses…

Thirty specific standards developed as guiding principles to maintain the utility, feasibility, propriety and accuracy of evaluations in educational programs, projects and materials are presented. Utility Standards include Audience Identification, Evaluator Credibility, Information Scope and Selection, Valuational Interpretation, Report Clarity,…

This report consists of two parts. The first section identifies issues concerning the "Standards for Evaluations of Educational Programs, and Materials." In the second, these issues are addressed through an agenda for conducting projects designed to study and improve the contents and uses of the standards. (BW)

This monograph identifies, analyzes, and judges 22 evaluation approaches used in program evaluation. Two approaches, labeled psuedoevaluations, are politically oriented and often used to misrepresent a program's value. The remaining 20, judged legitimate, are categorized by their orientations, and rated for their value. (SLD)

The newly established Center for Research on Educational Accountability and Teacher Evaluation (CREATE) is described. CREATE--1 of 25 centers being funded by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement--will be a focal point in evaluating the performance of teachers, administrators, and programs in public schools and private schools. (SLD)

Provides an overview of evaluation checklists and describes 10 checklists for program, personnel, and product evaluations that were developed to be available to evaluators through the World Wide Web. (SLD)

The past few years have seen efforts in several countries and a wide range of disciplines to adopt and apply existing professional standards for guiding and judging evaluation services and/or develop new standards. Some of the efforts have drawn from the work and products of the North American Joint Committee on Standards for Educational…

"Evaluation Theory, Models, and Applications" is designed for evaluators and students who need to develop a commanding knowledge of the evaluation field: its history, theory and standards, models and approaches, procedures, and inclusion of personnel as well as program evaluation. This important book shows how to choose from a growing…

The dimensions of educational evaluation include conceptualization and technology of evaluation. The methods have been drawn from the area of educational and psychological research. The techniques of evaluation need to serve the information needs of clients, address the central value issues, deal with situational realities, meet requirements of…

The author, chair of the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation, compares the Evaluation Research Society (ERS) and Joint Committee Standards and proposes that ERS and the Joint Committee consider merging their standard-setting efforts. (Author/LC)