NCJ Number
64272
Editor(s)
A C HYDE,
J M SHAFRITZ
Date Published
1979
Length
407 pages
Annotation
THIS ANTHOLOGY EXAMINES THE POLITICS OF EVALUATION AND REALISTICALLY ASSESS THE IMPACT OF EVALUATION ON ORGANIZATIONS AND FACETS OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES.
Abstract
DISCUSSIONS FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS IN (1) OBJECTIVELY AND SCIENTIFICALLY EVALUATING MULTIPURPOSE, COMPLEX, AND OFTEN HIGHLY SUBJECTIVE AND AMBIGUOUS PUBLIC PROGRAMS; (2) IMPLEMENTING THE RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF EVALUATIONS TO CAUSE MEANINGFUL PROGRAM CHANGE WITHIN HIGHLY POLITICAL TECHNICAL ENVIRONMENTS; AND (3) MAINTAINING THE CREDITABILITY OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS, BOTH AS AN INTERNAL MANAGEMENT TOOL AND AN EXTERNAL REVIEW-CONTROL-CHANGE MECHANISM. EVALUATION THEORY AND POLITICS ARE INTRODUCED WITH DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS, CONSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND EVALUATION, CAUTIONARY ADVICE, AND REMARKS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLITICS AND EVALUATION AND ON AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY FAILURES. EVALUATION IS THEN EXAMINED AS IT IS CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES; I.E., FOR FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS, FOR STATE PROGRAMS (IN PARTICULAR, THOSE IN KANSAS, NEW YORK, AND VIRGINIA), AND FOR COURT PRACTICES AND PERSONNEL. CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE EFFECTS OF EVALUATION ON SUCH MANAGEMENT DIMENSIONS AS PRODUCTIVITY, PLANNING, AND POLICY. EVALUATION THEORY IS ALSO PROJECTED ONTO SEVERAL SUBSTANTIVE SITUATIONS: HEALTH CARE IN THE GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS FOR THE AGING, AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. FINALLY, COMPLETED EVALUATION CASE STUDIES ARE REVIEWED, INCLUDING A REPORT ON INDIANA'S EXPERIENCE WITH MOTORCYCLE HELMET LEGISLATION, A COST-BENEFITS STUDY OF FLUORIDATION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES IN RURAL JURISDICTIONS, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAM, AND A U.S. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE TREATMENT OF LOCAL AGENCY PROBLEMS WITH HELPING THE AGING. NAME AND SUBJECT INDEXES ARE INCLUDED, AS ARE REFERENCES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS.