NCJ Number
39147
Date Published
1976
Length
65 pages
Annotation
SUMMARY OF SURVEY FINDINGS ON TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS IN EVALUATION AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL OPERATING AGENCY LEVELS, THE EXTENT OF THESE DEFICIENCIES, AND ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES.
Abstract
THE FIRST SEGMENT OF THIS ANALYSIS WAS DIRECTED AT IDENTIFYING DECISION NODES IN THE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE WHERE EVALUATIVE INFORMATION COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT PROCESS. IT WAS FOUND THAT INCREASING THE IMPACT OF EVALUATION WILL DEPEND ON INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF EVALUATION SERVICES TO LOCAL PLANNING AND OPERATING AGENCIES. OVERALL, THE CONDUCT OF IMPACT ASSESSMENTS WAS JUDGED IN NEED OF THE LEAST MODIFICATION OR ADDITIONAL CAPABILITY. PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT WAS SEEN AS REQUIRING BOTH ADDED RESOURCES AND A CHANGE IN EMPHASIS FROM BUDGET ACCOUNTABILITY TO SUBSTANTIVE GUIDANCE. NEEDS ANALYSIS, RARELY USED IN THE SYSTEM, WAS INDICATED AS AN AREA WHERE CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE IS APPROPRIATE. DURING A THIRD SEGMENT OF THE ANALYSIS, TWO SCENARIOS WERE PREPARED DESCRIBING HOW PRESENT EVALUATION CAPABILITIES COULD BE IMPROVED. IN ONE, THE OVERSIGHT MODEL, NEW RESOURCES WOULD BE PROVIDED AT THE SPA AND RPU LEVELS TO STRENGTHEN THE PLANNING, CONDUCT AND APPRAISAL OF FEDERALLY FUNDED INNOVATIVE EFFORTS. IN THE OTHER, THE OPERATIONS MODEL, EVALUATION RESOURCES WOULD BE DEVELOPED LARGELY WITHIN OPERATING AGENCIES TO IMPROVE THE ROUTINE USE OF EVALUATIVE INFORMATION IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGE PROGRAMS. CONSIDERATION OF THE QUANTITATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR EVALUATION PERSONNEL CONCLUDED THAT A TOTAL OF 1203 PERSON YEARS (AN INCREASE OF 500) WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS SUPPORTED WITH FEDERAL FUNDS. IT WAS ALSO ESTIMATED THAT FURTHER INCREASING THIS CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE LOCAL AGENCIES WITH APPROPRIATE ACCESS TO EVALUATION SERVICES WOULD REQUIRE SOME 6626 PERSON YEARS OF EVALUATION ACTIVITY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...ELW