NCJ Number
54142
Journal
Bellringer Volume: 9 Issue: 10 Dated: (1979) Pages: 15-18
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A THEORY-BASED EVALUATION PROCESS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECTS IS DESCRIBED USING AS AN EXAMPLE CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED).
Abstract
THEORY-BASED EVALUATION IS PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE IN CASES WHERE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECT BEING EVALUATED IS BASED TO SOME EXTENT ON AN EXPLICIT THEORY, MODEL, OR PHILOSOPHY SUCH AS CPTED; THE AUDIENCE FOR THE EVALUATION REPORT WANTS TO KNOW IF THE PROJECT, AS IMPLEMENTED, REPRESENTS A VALID TEST OF THE THEORY, MODEL, OR PHILOSOPHY; EVALUATION DESIGNS THAT COULD PROVIDE RESULTS WITH STRONG INTERNAL VALIDITY ARE IMPRACTICAL OR IMPOSSIBLE; AND THE PROJECT'S ULTIMATE GOALS ARE LONG-TERM IN NATURE AND THUS BEYOND THE TERM OF THE EVALUATION. PLANNING THEORY-BASED EVALUATION REQUIRES THREE STEPS. FIRST, THE HYPOTHESIZED PROCESS (CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK) BY WHICH THE PROJECT IS ASSUMED TO MEET ITS OBJECTIVES MUST BE CLEARLY OUTLINED. SECOND, THE EVALUATOR MUST IDENTIFY WHAT HAS TO BE MEASURED (MEASUREMENT POINTS OR VARIABLES). FINALLY, IT MUST BE DECIDED WHAT DATA WILL BE COLLECTED THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF MEASUREMENT POINTS. THE LATTER STEP REQUIRES THE IDENTIFICATION OF VALID DATA ELEMENTS. A HYPOTHESIZED MODEL FOR EVALUATION IS ILLUSTRATED BY IDENTIFYING THE LINKAGE BETWEEN EFFORT, PROXIMATE GOALS, AND ULTIMATE GOALS IN A FLOW CHART OF MEASUREMENT POINTS ASSOCIATED WITH CPTED THEORY. (DEP)