NCJ Number
51173
Journal
Evaluation and Program Planning Volume: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 97-107
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THREE PROGRAM EVALUATION MODELS ARE ILLUSTRATED. THE ETHICAL PROBLEMS INHERENT IN EACH MODEL AND THE PROBLEMS WHICH ARISE WHEN THE MODELS ARE COMBINED ARE PRESENTED, ALONG WITH CASE EXAMPLES AND DISCUSSION.
Abstract
THE ETHICAL STANDARDS OF PSYCHOLOGISTS, FORMULATED BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION IN 1977, ARE REVIEWED AND THEIR APPLICATON TO PROGRAM EVALUATION IS DISCUSSED. THEN THE PARTICULAR ETHICAL CONFLICTS WHICH ARISE WHEN PROGRAM EVALUATORS TRY TO CARRY OUT INCOMPATIBLE MODELS OF EVALUATION SIMULTANEOUSLY ARE CONSIDERED. THREE MODELS ARE GENERALLY USED FOR EVALUATION: THE AMELIORATION MODEL, WHICH ATTEMPTS TO GENERATE BETTER INFORMATION FOR A PROGRAM'S OWN DECISIONMAKERS; THE ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL, WHICH FOCUSES ON PUBLIC DATA DISCLOSURE AND CITIZEN PARTICIPTION IN EVALUATION; AND THE ADVOCACY MODEL, WHICH ATTEMPTS TO ADVANCE THE PROGRAM'S SHARE IN THE COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES. EACH MODEL HAS INHERENT PROBLEMS, BUT IT IS THE HYPOTHESIS OF THE PAPER THAT THE GREATEST ETHICAL PROBLEMS ARISE FROM AMBIGUITY AND CONFUSION ABOUT WHICH MODEL IS BEING USED OR FROM SHIFTS IN MODEL DURING EVALUATION. THESE PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL AND ARE ILLUSTRATED WITH CASE EXAMPLES. THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM CHOOSING THE WRONG EVALUATION MODEL ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. SEVEN PRINCIPLES ARE GIVEN FOR EVALUATORS. THESE INCLUDE STEPS TO BE TAKEN WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION TO BE EVALUATED, PUBLIC RELTIONS STEPS TO BE TAKEN WITH THE PUBLIC AND WITH SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS, AND CONCERNS WHICH MUST BE FACED BY THE EVALUATION TEAM. THE AMELIORATION MODEL IS RECOMMENDED AS THE ONE CAUSING FEWEST PROBLEMS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. FOR A COMMENTARY ON THIS ARTICLE, SEE NCJ-51174. (GLR)