POLITICAL CONTEXT OF EVALUATION - WITH SEPARATE COMMENTARY (FROM EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS. 1974 BY WILLIAM C. SZE AND JUNE G. HOPPS - SEE NCJ-18713)

• NCJ Number: 18715
• Author(s): J G COKE; J E HANSAN; J R HOFFER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Schenkman Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS AND INFLUENCES WHICH MAY AFFECT THE NATURE, GOALS, EFFICIENCY AND IMPACT OF EVALUATION RESEARCH ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH POLITICAL THEORY HAS TRADITIONALLY ASSUMED THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE EVALUATION OCCURS AS A MATTER OF COURSE THROUGH THE ORDINARY PROCESSES OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, OTHER MEANS OF EVALUATION SEPARATE FROM POLITICS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING EMPLOYED. THE AUTHOR CITES THE PUTATIVE POWER OF SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS, THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL SUSPICION AS REASONS FOR THIS TREND. APPLICATIONS OF EVALUATION WITHIN THE POLITICAL CONTEXT, SUCH AS THE USE OF EVALUATION TO ENFORCE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AGENCIES, ARE REVIEWED. ALSO, THE DIFFICULTIES IN RELATING EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS TO THE OBJECTIVES AND AIMS SET BY POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT ARE DISCUSSED. THESE DIFFICULTIES INCLUDE THE CHANGES IN STATED AGENCY GOALS WHICH MAY TAKE PLACE DURING THE COURSE OF AN EVALUATION, THE VAGUENESS OF LEGISLATIVE GOALS, AND THE DIFFERENT FORMS GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS MAY TAKE WHEN ADMINISTERED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT IN SPITE OF THE IDEOLOGY AND GOOD INTENTIONS WHICH SEEK TO SEPARATE EVALUATION AND POLITICS, THE TWO ARE INEXTRICABLY INTERTWINED. IN THE RELATED COMMENTARY, IT IS ARGUED THAT THE PLANNING PROGRAMMING BUDGETING SYSTEM EMPLOYED IN FEDERAL AGENCIES IS ONE EVALUATION SYSTEM THAT WORKS WITHIN THE POLITICAL PROCESS WHILE REMAINING SEPARATED FROM POLITICS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)