Morell Program Evaluation in Social Research

1. Auflage 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4831-4995-0
Verlag: Elsevier Science & Techn.
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 212 Seiten, Web PDF

Program Evaluation in Social Research presents a plan for developing evaluation into a form of applied social research that is not only methodologically sound, but also relevant to the problems of society and built on a technological (as opposed to a scientific) model. This book views evaluation as applied, relevant social research and as social technology and assesses its validity and usefulness. This monograph is comprised of eight chapters and begins with an assessment of the consequences of program evaluation for the conduct of social research and for society at large, and how evaluation can be made into a method of generating practical and powerful suggestions for planning successful social programs. The concept of ''outcome evaluation'' is also organized into meaningful categories which can be used for the intelligent planning of appropriate evaluation activities. The reader is then introduced to the types of evaluation that are carried out, the relative merits of each type, and how to optimize the validity and utility of each type. Evaluation as a technological, rather than a scientific, pursuit is also discussed. The remaining chapters focus on the frictions that arise during the implementation of program evaluation; program evaluation as a profession; and how evaluation can be developed into a relevant and powerful method of guiding the course of social innovations. This text will be a useful resource for sociologists, social scientists, and social researchers.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Morell, Jonathan A.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Front Cover;1
2;Program Evaluation in Social Research;4
3;Copyright Page;5
4;Table of Contents;8
5;Dedication;6
6;PREFACE;12
7;ACKNOWLEDGMENTS;16
8;Chapter 1. Evaluation As Applied, Relevant Social Research;18
8.1;BASIC PERSPECTIVES;18
8.2;ORGANIZATION OF THE BOOK;19
8.3;ON THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL DISTINCTIONS;22
9;Chapter 2. Evaluation Types;23
9.1;INTRODUCTION;23
9.2;THE "EVALUATION-TYPE" CONTINUUM;25
9.3;CLIENT-COMPARISON EVALUATION;25
9.4;FOLLOW-UP EVALUATION;31
9.5;MODALITY TEST EVALUATION;35
9.6;CHAPTER SUMMARY;40
9.7;NOTES;41
10;Chapter 3. Validity of Evaluation;43
10.1;THE VALIDITY CONTINUUM;44
10.2;ESTABLISHING MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF VALIDITY;45
10.3;VALIDITY ISSUES IN CLIENT-COMPARISON EVALUATION;50
10.4;VALIDITY ISSUES IN FOLLOW-UP EVALUATION4;58
10.5;VALIDITY ISSUES IN MODALITY TEST EVALUATION;68
10.6;SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF MODALITY TEST EVALUATION;74
10.7;CHAPTER SUMMARY;81
10.8;NOTES;83
11;Chapter 4. Usefulness of Evaluation;85
11.1;INTRODUCTION;85
11.2;THE USEFULNESS CONTINUUM;86
11.3;USEFULNESS OF CLIENT-COMPARISON EVALUATION;87
11.4;POLITICAL USES: GENERAL INTRODUCTION;91
11.5;USEFULNESS OF FOLLOW-UP STUDIES;93
11.6;MODALITY TEST EVALUATION;99
11.7;CONCLUSION;107
11.8;NOTES;109
12;Chapter 5. Evaluation as Social Technology;111
12.1;INTRODUCTION;111
12.2;WHY IS SOCIAL RESEARCH NOT RELEVANT? A REVIEW OF CRITIQUES;112
12.3;A FRAMEWORK FOR SOLUTIONS;117
12.4;DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY;117
12.5;ADVANTAGES OF EVALUATION AS SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY;123
12.6;INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY;136
12.7;NOTES;138
13;Chapter 6. Implementation of Evaluation: Dynamics of Conflict and Suggestions for Change;140
13.1;INTRODUCTION;140
13.2;BINDING FORCES BETWEEN SOCIAL SCIENCE AND SOCIAL SERVICE;141
13.3;SOURCES OF FRICTION BETWEEN SOCIAL SCIENCE AND SOCIAL SERVICE;143
13.4;JUSTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH/EVALUATION POSITION;147
13.5;FACTORS THAT INHIBIT COMPROMISE;148
13.6;SOLUTIONS TO THE CONFLICT;150
13.7;ORGANIZING PRINCIPLES OF INCREASED RELEVANCE;157
13.8;NOTES;159
14;Chapter 7. Powerful Evaluation: Consequences for The Organization of Social Research;160
14.1;INTRODUCTION;160
14.2;EVALUATION AS A PROFESSION;161
14.3;THEORIES OF PROFESSIONALIZATION;163
14.4;THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF EVALUATION;164
14.5;PREDICTIONS FROM MODELS OF PROFESSIONALIZATION;167
14.6;SPECIAL PROBLEMS AS A FUNCTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL AND TYPE-VALIDITY-USEFULNESS PERSPECTIVES;172
14.7;CONCLUSION;175
14.8;NOTES;175
15;Chapter 8. Evaluation in an Innovating Society;177
15.1;CURRENT TRENDS AND FUTURE PROMISE;177
15.2;CONSEQUENCES AND RESPONSIBILITIES;184
15.3;INNOVATION AND EVALUATION;189
15.4;NOTES;190
16;BIBLIOGRAPHY;192
17;NAME INDEX;202
18;SUBJECT INDEX;206
19;ABOUT THE AUTHOR;210