Implications of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 are discussed for evaluation involvement. Studies testing the theory underlying the act, that planning and performance measurement will improve program management and effectiveness, are described. Experiences of several federal agencies suggest that this underlying theory may be…

Inclusive evaluation is intended to emphasize a participatory, collaborative approach to evaluation. This panel considered what inclusive evaluation approaches look like in current practice and how to implement these approaches in practice successfully. The importance of respecting stakeholders is emphasized. (SLD)

Provides an argument for incorporating consideration of consequences into validity theory that is grounded in the reflexive nature of social knowledge. It also calls for the consideration of evidence of validity based on the actual discourse surrounding the practices and products of testing. (SLD)

Draws lessons in contracting for evaluations from the 1995 evaluation of a U.S. Marine Corps personnel evaluation system and a 1991 evaluation of the procedures for setting cutting scores of the National Assessment Governing Board of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. These national, politically sensitive evaluations provide lessons…

Guidelines for developing an evaluation plan for a gifted education program include recognizing the reluctance to spend money on evaluation, identifying what should be evaluated, deciding when programs should be reevaluated, determining overall evaluation principles, creating the evaluation design, and designing the evaluation plan to fit a…

Developed and field tested the Performance Accountability Quality Scale (PAQS) on 191 program performance measurement systems developed by nonprofit agencies in central Florida. Preliminary findings indicate that the PAQS provides a structure for obtaining expert opinions based on a theory-driven model about the quality of proposed measurement…

The six chapters of this issue consider how language shapes the meaning of social policies and programs that are evaluated. Offers interdisciplinary perspectives on these language issues and highlights the practical issues involved in language function in evaluation. (SLD)

Suggests research designs and methodologies that are useful in program evaluation when information is hard to measure, or sensitive in nature, or difficult for the respondent to articulate. Illustrates the application of these methods, which include intersubjective certifiability and triangulated respondent groups among other approaches, through…

Outlines a few items of "unfinished business" in the profession of evaluation, focusing on outcome evaluation, also called impact evaluation. No issue related to the future of evaluation seems more important than that of finding routine methods to assess the impact of everyday practical programs on the social conditions they address.…

Sets forth a vision for evaluation in the future that is disciplined in the sense of being planned, systematic, and funded in ways that adhere to professional standards, principles, and codes, resulting in the improvement of services, products, performances, and quality of life. In the ideal future, disciplined evaluation will become a pervasive…

Makes 15 predictions about the future of evaluation and outlines 4 challenges that will determine the future of the field: (1) negotiating permanent truces in paradigm wars; (2) using science intelligently rather than joining in politically correct attacks on it; (3) keeping evaluation independent enough of societal trends to be able to evaluate…

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…

Reviews the conclusions drawn in articles in this special issue and comments on some of the major themes, including paradigm debates, context issues, the role of evaluators and evaluation, the performance measurement movement, and the impact of new technologies on evaluation. (SLD)

Discusses preservation education programs and describes a workshop follow-up program by SOLINET (Southeastern Library Network) designed to measure the effects of training, provide ongoing support, and develop a long-term mechanism for evaluating workshop effectiveness. Presents results obtained after collecting qualitative and quantitative data…

Presents conversion factors to be used to translate the quality of the respective contraception methods distributed to a single measure of protection for calculating couple-years of protection in family planning studies. Discusses the implications for the evaluation of family planning programs. (SLD)