NCJ Number
60929
Journal
Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare Volume: 6 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 657-672
Date Published
1979
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A METHODOLOGY IS PROPOSED FOR EVALUATING LOCAL SERVICE DELIVERY PROGRAMS IN THE LIGHT OF FEDERAL STANDARDS PRESCRIBED FOR MEETING PARTICULAR SOCIAL NEEDS.
Abstract
THE PRIMARY FEATURE DISTINGUISHING BASELINE EVALUATION FROM OTHER EVALUATION FORMS IS THE EXISTENCE OF A PREDETERMINED SET OF OBJECTIVES AND SUB-OBJECTIVES IMPOSED ON THE PROGRAM EVALUATED FROM OUTSIDE THE PROGRAM'S DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. WITH THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES THUS PREDETERMINED, THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION IS HOW TO MEASURE AT A PARTICULAR TIME THE EXTENT TO WHICH ACTUAL PROGRAM PROCESSES AND OUTCOMES COMPARE WITH SET OBJECTIVES. IN A CASE EXAMPLE, A CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PROGRAM IS EVALUATED AGAINST 'FEDERAL STANDARDS ON THE PREVENTION, IDENTIFICATION, AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.' IN FIELD TESTING THE BASELINE EVALUATION PROCEDURE, MEASUREMENT FOR ALL ITEMS, OTHER THAN SERVICE ITEMS, WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS FOR EACH ITEM: (1) ARE EXISTING PROVISIONS CONSISTENT WITH THOSE PRESCRIBED IN THE STANDARDS? (2) IF NOT, HOW DO THEY VARY? (3) ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR CHANGING EXISTING PROVISIONS OR DEVELOPING NEW ONES RELATED TO THE MAIN THEMES OF THE STANDARDS? AND (4) TO ACHIEVE THESE CHANGES, WHAT PROBLEMS WOULD NEED CONFRONTING? ATTENDANT TO THE BASIC DESIGN OF THE BASELINE EVALUATION PROCEDURE WAS THE PROBLEM OF CASTING THE SUBSTANCE OF THE STANDARDS INTO MEASURABLE UNITS OF ANALYSIS. THIS WAS DONE BY TREATING THE PRESCRIBED GUIDELINES FOR MEETING THE STANDARDS AS UNITS FOR MEASUREMENT. DATA SOURCES FOR ANSWERING THE EVALUATION QUESTIONS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY AND INTERPRETING INFORMATION ARE DESCRIBED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.