A report of an advanced workshop for inservice directors in which they designed, implemented, and evaluated a research project to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of a particular inservice offering given in their agencies. Summaries of seven participants' project reports are included. (WL)

Discusses a study which examined the results of five basic management seminars for government supervisors and managers to determine the impact of "Basic Management" on trainees' behavior after they returned to their jobs. Notes that the findings cast doubts on some things that have long been part of the conventional wisdom of management training.…

Peer education has been promoted by college health service health education programs for years. This paper questions some assumptions that underlie the use of peer health educators, highlights problems associated with training peer paraprofessionals, and discusses program evaluation, noting ways to work effectively with students to enhance health…

Describes using debriefing activities to increase the proactive and preventive benefits when negative consequences are given to students who display problem behavior. Discusses why educators use debriefing activities, how to determine effectiveness, what a debriefing activity should look like, and when it should be used. (Author/CR)

Results for 113 students and 59 comparisons from an evaluation of a three-year Success for All program under difficult circumstances show positive effects for the kindergarten component but largely negative effects in grades two and three. Evaluations of the program should assess its goal of getting all students to read at grade level by grade…

Suggests four criteria (efficiency, return on investment, incentives, and equity) for evaluating and comparing public programs for poor children, and provides an overview of information available on eight large federal programs using these criteria. Positive effects of some programs are noted, and policy recommendations the evidence supports are…

Discusses the Gateway Program at New Jersey's Rutgers University, in which departments administer their own developmental classes. Describes reasons for the program's success, including small class sizes, providing students with gradual increases in autonomy, frequent assessment and feedback, and teaching strategies that require participation.…

This article analyzes research on consultation practices in educating students with special needs. The article summarizes previous reviews of consultation outcome research, reviews recent (1985-95) empirically based outcome research in educational settings, critiques various methodological features, and provides recommendations for future…

In a question-and-answer format, the assistant vice president for development and director of alumni relations at Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania) discusses how alumni directors can gauge their programs' effectiveness, how his institution addresses the issue, and how a Council for Advancement and Support of Education project to develop…

Evaluated a 3-year initiative to organize 30 projects in YMCA centers in England to provide help and support to the parents of teenagers; projects involved group-based courses, "dads and lads" projects, mediation schemes, and families and computing courses. Identified a variety of outcomes for parents, youth, project workers, and the…

Describes a two-week residential program for youths with visual impairments which focused on career development and transition from school to work. Telephone interviews with participants and their parents indicated the program allowed the youths to socialize, share experiences, acquire skills, and become more aware of careers and job…

The evaluation strategy adopted by a rural Ontario (Canada) community health center is described, focusing on problems caused by multiple programs, variable and culturally diverse client base, and nontraditional approaches to health and wellness. The evaluation attempted to give a broad picture of the center's dynamics, processes, and efficacy.…

Examined effects of a comprehensive drug education training package on the planning, development, and implementation of drug education lessons. Results based on 205 teacher questionnaires indicate a high approval rating. A majority of teachers reported that they would recommend the program to their colleagues; one-quarter reported using it to…

This commentary on "Natural Supports in the Workplace: The Jury Is Still Out" (Test and Wood), argues that the principles of natural supports should not be subject to empirical testing because they function as a guide to strategy development and strategy selection. Discusses the difficulties in examining natural support strategies. (CR)

A review found many of the studies that have assessed the efficacy of psychotropic medications with individuals with mental retardation (MR) are methodologically flawed. It details suggestions to improve the quality of medication studies and avoid methodological problems that prevent the scientific advancement of psychopharmacological research…