Issues in the Evaluation of Social Programs

Evaluation research and the sociopolitical structure: A review

“…Therefore, the climate in the community social program might be more receptive to evaluation if staff, administrators, clients, and board members were well-informed about the purpose of evaluation as a tool for program improvement, and its relevance to decision-making, program-planning, and management. As Caro (1973) implied, efforts need to be made to educate people regarding the evaluation process.…”

Impact of Iowa secondary vocational home economics programs with emphasis on consumer education

“…This major emphasis has occurred out of growing concern for the use of federal dollars and for the impact of social programs upon individuals whom the programs were designed to serve. Caro (1971) noted that, until that period, policy had been formed without descriptive and evaluative data needed to insure the worth 6 of a program. Objective evidence of the effects of programs had not been required as a basis for program development and modification (Caro, 1971).…”

“…Caro (1971) noted that, until that period, policy had been formed without descriptive and evaluative data needed to insure the worth 6 of a program. Objective evidence of the effects of programs had not been required as a basis for program development and modification (Caro, 1971). In particular, evaluation studies were primarily directed toward small programs which had limited impact; such studies often occurred in a single school or school district and were primar ily concerned with such areas as curriculum development and teacher training (Cohen, 1970).…”

“…Goal-based models The most fundamental unit in policy research has been the identification and measurement of program ob jectives (Caro, 1971;Suchman, 1972). Models of policy research have varied in their orientation toward goals with some authors pro posing primary concern for the published goals of the program to other authors using goals only as a fundamental starting point.…”

Evaluation of a pilot family planning project in the Iowa Cooperative Extension program

“…as well as having covert reasons for resisting formal evaluation (Caro, 1971). Ambiguous results help to protect administrators where there is a possibility of failure.…”