NCJ Number
54800
Journal
Evaluation and Program Planning Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 235-238
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
IN A SIMULATED DECISIONMAKING SETTING 12 MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATORS REVIEWED 1 OF 2 PROBLEMS AND THEN WERE GIVEN POLITICAL, COST-BENEFIT, AND STATISTICAL DATA. ONLY THE COST-BENEFIT DATA WERE RATED AS SIGNIFICANT.
Abstract
TWO DECISION SITUATIONS, A DIRECT SERVICE PROBLEM AND AN INDIRECT SERVICE PROBLEM, WERE SIMULATED IN A GROUP SETTING WITH PAPER AND PENCIL. THE ADMINISTRATORS WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO ONE OF THE TWO GROUPS. THE TWO PROBLEMS AND THE VARIOUS DATA PRESENTED ARE BRIEFLY SUMMARIZED. THE POLITICAL INFORMATION INCLUDED THE OPINIONS OF PERSONS WITHIN THE PROGRAM, IN VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS, AND PUBLIC OPINION. THE COST-BENEFIT INFORMATION WAS BASED ON THE PROGRAM'S PLANNING AND BUDGETING SYSTEM. THE STATISTICAL DATA WAS BASED ON DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FOR THE AREA SERVED AND THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES. THE TUKEY-T METHOD WAS USED TO TEST THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH TYPE OF INFORMATION USED IN THE DECISIONMAKING. ONLY COST-BENEFIT DATA PROVED SIGNIFICANT (P LESS THAN 0.001). THIS SIGNIFICANCE WAS EMPHASIZED IN OPEN ENDED REMARKS MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATORS. THEY POINTED OUT THAT STATISTICAL DATA IS USEFUL, BUT THAT IN ACTUAL DECISIONS IT IS THE COST DATA WHICH IS MOST SIGNIFICANT. THIS HELD TRUE REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IF EVALUATORS ARE TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM IMPACT, THEY WILL HAVE TO LEARN TO GENERATE COST-BENEFIT DATA WHICH ADMINISTRATORS FIND USEFUL. IN RECOGNITION OF THIS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH HAS SPONSORED WORKSHOPS TO HELP EVALUATORS LEARN MORE ABOUT COST ACCOUNTING AND EVALUATION STRATEGIES WHICH WILL GENERATE SUCH DATA. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)