CONCEPTUALIZING INEQUALITY (FROM EVALUATION STUDIES REVIEW ANNUAL, V 2, 1977, BY MARCIA GUTTENTAG AND SHALOM SAAR - SEE NCJ-47177)

• NCJ Number: 47190
• Author(s): T C MILLER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PROGRAM EVALUATION STUDIES ARE REVIEWED IN LIGHT OF FIVE PERSPECTIVES ON INEQUALITY EACH EXPRESSED GRAPHICALLY AS A PROBLEM STATEMENT AND A REFORM STATEMENT.

Abstract

THE REVIEW IS CONCERNED WITH THE NEED FOR EVALUATORS TO BE ABLE TO ASSESS PROGRAM EFFECTS ON INEQUALITY AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS. PRECISE DEFINITIONS OF REFORM GOALS AND MEASURES OF INEQUALITY ARE ESSENTIAL TO SUCH A CAPABILITY. FIVE REFORM PERSPECTIVES ON INEQUALITY ARE PRESENTED: (1) EQUAL ACCESS TO INPUTS; (2) EQUAL RECOGNITION OF MERIT; (3) EQUAL OUTCOMES FOR ADVANTAGED AND DISADVANTAGED GROUPS; (4) ELIMINATION OF THE EXTREMES OF DEPRIVATION AND PRIVILEGE; AND (5) REDUCTION OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN OUTCOMES. EACH GOAL IS EXPLAINED AND PRESENTED GRAPHICALLY AS A PROBLEM STATEMENT OF INEQUALITY AND AS A REFORM STATEMENT (LESS INEQUALITY). EACH PERSPECTIVE IS LINKED WITH METHODS AND FINDINGS FROM AN EVALUATION STUDY EMPLOYING THAT PERSPECTIVE. WHEN MADE OPERATIONAL STATISTICALLY, THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES PRODUCE DIFFERENT FINDINGS. MOST STATISTICAL ANALYSES OF INEQUALITY ARE OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN OUTCOMES. WHEN FINDNGS ON INDIVIDUAL INEQUALITY ARE GENERALIZED TO EXPLAIN INEQUALITY FROM OTHER POLITICAL REFORM PERSPECTIVES, CONFUSION RESULTS. THIS CONFUSION IS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE INFERENCES THAT WERE DRAWN BY REFORMERS FROM RESEARCH ON SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS AND RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENTS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF PROGRAMS ON SOCIAL EQUALITY, RESEARCHERS MUST CONCEPTUALIZE THE PROBLEM AND REFORM GOALS MORE PRECISELY. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)