WHY IS EVALUATION RESEARCH NOT UTILIZED? (FROM EVALUATION STUDIES REVIEW ANNUAL, V 2, 1977, BY MARCIA GUTTENTAG AND SHALOM SAAR - SEE NCJ-47177)

• NCJ Number: 47189
• Author(s): R AGARWALA-ROGERS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REASONS BEHIND THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF EVALUATION RESEARCH RESULTS BY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND PRACTITIONERS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND APPROACHES FOR CORRECTING THE SITUATION ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

AMONG FACTORS THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF EVALUATION RESEARCH RESULTS ARE THE FOLLOWING: LACK OF RESPECT FOR EVALUATION AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE; FAILURE TO INVOLVE ADMINISTRATORS IN THE EVALUATION PROCESS; CONFLICTING INTERESTS OF PROGRAM OFFICIALS AND EVALUATORS; LACK OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN EVALUATORS AND THE USERS OF RESEARCH FINDINGS ABOUT DEFINITIONS OF PROBLEMS AND NEEDS; LACK OF SPECIALISTS TRAINED TO ACT AS LIAISONS BETWEEN ADMINISTRATORS AND EVALUATORS; EMPHASIS ON DESCRIPTIONS OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES RATHER THAN SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS; OVEREMPHASIS ON NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF PROGRAMS; SCHEDULING PROBLEMS; AND PERCEPTION OF EVALUATION -BY BOTH ADMINISTRATORS AND EVALUATORS -- AS A THREAT. SOME FORM OF LINKAGE BETWEEN RESEARCHERS AND USERS OF RESEARCH FINDINGS IS ESSENTIAL. UTILIZATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS MAY ALSO BE IMPROVED BY MAKING EVALUATION AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROGRAM, BY INCLUDING BOTH FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE EVALUATIONS BY INSIDERS AS WELL AS OUTSIDERS, BY SCHEDULING RESEARCH FEEDBACK ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAM OFFICIAL'S NEEDS RATHER THAN THE EVALUATOR'S, BY ASSURING THAT EVALUATION EFFORTS DO NOT INTERFERE WITH PROGRAM OPERATIONS, AND BY PRESENTING RESULTS IN AN UNDERSTANDABLE MANNER. (LKM)