Evaluations of five youth-leadership programs integrated research and practice; findings were documented, analyzed, and shared with staff so that improvements could be made immediately. Staff provided feedback to broaden their understanding and ensure that research focused on critical issues. (Author/JOW)

This special section includes "The View from the Middle" (Dick Schaaf); "Crossing the Channel" (Dawn Garrett); and "Bandwidth Basics" (Dick Schaaf). Sidebars look at bandwidth and management issues as well as courseware development. (JOW)

Describes development, implementation, and evaluation of a theory-based faculty development program for physician-educators in medicine and pediatrics at the Cleveland Clinic (Ohio). The program includes a 12-hour course focused on precepting skills, bedside teaching, and effective feedback; on-site coaching; and innovative projects in clinical…

Identifies strengths and weaknesses of the study of the Comprehensive Child Development Program and draws evaluative conclusions based on the analysis. Cites lack of stakeholder involvement and pilot studies as a weaknesses of the evaluation but notes the general quality of the effort. (SLD)

Reviews the Oregon Transition Support Initiative, an ongoing research and implementation project that prevents recidivism by helping stakeholders help incarcerated youth return to their communities. Discusses the transition process as the working relationships that together accomplish the common goal of seeing that youth offenders learn the life…

Investors in People (IIP) is a British national standard for quality in training and development. Evaluation of companies achieving IIP recognition identified business benefits that resulted from the process. (SK)

A communication model consisting of input from target audience, program delivery, and outcomes (receivers' perception of message) was applied to an osteoporosis-prevention program for working mothers ages 21 to 45. Due to poor completion rate on evaluation instruments and failure of participants to learn key concepts, the model was used to improve…

Identifies some challenges to evidence-based policy and practice and illustrates these challenges through the large-scale evaluation of a major curriculum development project. Offers several responses to these challenges, which include: (1) changes in educational goals; (2) different time lines; and (3) the variability of effect size in different…

Presents a reaction to major contribution articles from this issue of "The Counseling Psychologist" (2000, [this issue]). Highlights important concepts that call for the field of counseling psychology to go "back to basics," including identity issues; the scope of prevention; prevention evaluation research; preventive…

Describes a mentoring program that matched senior managers with high-potential people. Steps include matching mentors and proteges, meeting with participants, implementing the program, and evaluating the program. (JOW)

Presents a continuum of service learning projects in higher education that has four dimensions: amount, duration, and type of experiences; degree of student choice; type and amount of supervision; and amount of internal/external oversight. Offers considerations for faculty involved in organizing, managing, and evaluating service learning projects.…

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…

Business school deans at institutions accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business were surveyed on distance education programs offered at their respective schools. This study examined sixteen characteristics of the distance education programs: the number of offerings, the question of not offering distance education,…

There is growing recognition of the complexity of academic work and the need for university and college faculty members to develop scholarly approaches to teaching and learning. While structured programs of study have been initiated for faculty to address these issues in various higher education contexts, very little research has investigated the…

The recommendations from a two-part, formative evaluation of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education professional development system are reported here. The first phase of the evaluation studied the relationships between the vision for professional development held by planners and facilitators and the ways in which participants…