It is suggested that there are some serious problems with defining the concept of empowerment evaluation, with its underlying assumptions, and with its proposed justification. Although devolving some responsibility for evaluation is good, devolving all of it to stakeholders is bad, as is thinking that the devolution creates a new kind of…

Summarizes the chapters of this theme issue on youth participatory evaluation. The overarching theme from this collection is the shift from a focus on youth as defective to a view of youth as assets in community development. (SLD)

This book is written for program administrators who want to become familiar with program evaluation methods. Outcome-based evaluation is defined as a form of program evaluation that uses objective person-referenced outcomes (measuring the functional level and social roles of program clients) to analyze effectiveness, impact, or costs and benefits.…

Outlines a scenario in which an evaluator wants to ask questions of teenagers that may pose ethical problems, or may be perceived as posing such problems. The hypothetical situation is the evaluation of a life skills program aimed at reducing the teen birth rate. (SLD)

Provides brief definitions of assessment, evaluation, and research and describes strategies for integrating and managing assessment and research activities for a large education technology development project. Provides examples of tools used to develop and manage a comprehensive assessment and research plan in a large technology integration…

Makes the case that responsiveness is a virtue, in evaluation as in everyday life, rather than merely a methodological tool for use in evaluation. Extends this concept using ideas from the Aristotelian tradition of practical philosophy as elaborated in recent works on hermeneutic philosophy. (SLD)

Addresses the role of evaluation, the basic logic of evaluation, and how the field of evaluation is structured. Focuses on evaluation in applied psychology, and describes the six conventional fields of evaluation. (SLD)

Describes how the first evaluation practitioner for the American Cancer Society (ACS) came to do evaluation capacity building (ECB) because of the need for evaluation following changes in the organizational structure. Provides a brief history of these changes as a background for understanding the seven principles of ECB at the ACS. (Author/SLD)

Uses the psychological lens of motivation to make the case that mandated evaluation requirements can serve as the impetus for accountability to become synonymous with organizational improvement. Illustrates the discussion with examples from the Manitoba (Canada) School Improvement Program. (SLD)

Examined the current status of state legislative program evaluation using data from a variety of sources, including interviews with eight evaluation directors and seven senior staff. State offices have used now methods and information formats, integrated changing staff roles and functions, and become more proactive in meeting legislative policy…

Explored evaluator roles and strategies that have the potential to increase the likelihood that the evaluation process will have an influence on an organization and its members. Conducted a brief case study of an evaluation work group to illustrate evaluator roles in task-focused and task-related discussions. (SLD)

Discusses guidelines developed by two professional associations, the Guiding Principles of the American Evaluation Association (1995) and the Program Evaluation Standards of the Joint Committee (1994), as they serve as a bridge between theory and practice in evaluation. Also reviews literature on these principles and standards to show their…

An ex ante benefit-cost analysis was conducted of applied tree improvement programs in the North Central Region from 1986 through the year 2030. Results for 24 tree species indicate that ex ante evaluation of the programs is difficult, but the intuition of professionals has built-in efficiency considerations. (TJH)

The problem associated with evaluating an econometric model using values outside those used in the model estimation is illustrated in the evaluations of a residential load management program during each of two successive years. Analysis reveals that attention must be paid to this problem. (Author/TJH)

Use and misuse of evaluation results are discussed. Variations in evaluation definitions, entity used, nature of the user, time and place of evaluation use, personal factor, basic premises of utilization-focused evaluation, misutilization, and method and rationales for use are discussed. A case example with a federal program is outlined. (TJH)