NCJ Number
57492
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A MODEL THAT DESCRIBES EVALUATION IN TERMS OF PROGRAM VARIABLES, STANDARDS VARIABLES, AND A COMPARISON PROCESS IS DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED IN FLOW CHARTS, AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN STUDYING AGGRESSION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
WITHIN THE MODEL, THE PROGRAM, OR THING TO BE EVALUATED, CAN ALWAYS BE DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF THREE TYPES OF VARIABLES: INDEPENDENT VARIABLES (USUALLY AN INTERVENTION), DEPENDENT VARIABLES (USUALLY AN INTENDED, DESIRED, EXPECTED, HYPOTHESIZED, OR RESULTING CONSEQUENCE), AND PARAMETERS (UNWANTED VARIABLES THAT HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR). THE SECOND CONDITION OF THE MODEL IS SOME MEASURE OR STANDARD OF WORTH, QUALITY, OR VALUE AGAINST WHICH THE PROGRAM IS COMPARED. THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF STANDARDS: GENERIC STANDARDS, FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPARENT OR ASSUMED PREFERENCE; AND PURPOSE- OR VALUE-ORIENTED STANDARDS, FOR WHICH THERE IS A PREFERENCE IN DIRECTION (E.G., NUMBER OF VIOLENT ACTS COMMITTED). THE THIRD CONDITION OF THE MODEL IS SOME PROCESS OR ACTIVITY FOR CARRYING OUT THE COMPARISON OR ESTABLISHING THE RESULT OF THE COMPARISON. THE MODEL IS EMBODIED IN A SERIES OF FLOW CHARTS, WHICH DEPICT IN DETAIL THE STAGES AND SUBSTAGES OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS (IDENTIFYING THE EVALUATION, CHOOSING THE EVALUATION DESIGN, OBTAINING DATA, ANALYZING THE DATA, AND REPORTING FINDINGS). THE MODEL IS USEFUL IN ANALYZING PROPOSED OR COMPLETED EVALUATIONS AND IN DESIGNING AND ANALYZING SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE AN ONGOING EVALUATION CAPABILITY. ONE APPLICATION OF THE MODEL IS IN STRUCTURING RESEARCH ON HUMAN AGGRESSION--DEFINING THE PHENOMENA BEING EVALUATED AND DESCRIBING THE STANDARDS OF EVALUATION. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)