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Foundations of Program Evaluation
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Foundations of Program Evaluation
Theories of Practice


November 1990 | 536 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

Foundations of Program Evaluation heralds a thorough exploration of the field of program evaluation--looking back on its origins. By summarizing, comparing, and contrasting the work of seven major theorists of program evaluation, this book provides an important perspective on the current state of evaluation theory and provides suggestions for ways of improving its practice. Beginning in Chapter Two, the authors develop a conceptual framework to analyze how successfully each theory meets the specific criteria of its framework. Each subsequent chapter is devoted to the presentation of the theoretical and practical advice of a significant theorist--Michael Scriven, Donald Campbell, Carol Weiss, Joseph Wholey, Robert Stake, Lee Cronbach, and Peter Rossi.


 
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
 
Social Program Evaluation
Its History, Tasks and Theory

 
 
Good Theory for Social Program Evaluation
 
PART TWO: STAGE ONE THEORIES: BRINGING TRUTH TO SOCIAL PROBLEM SOLVING
 
Michael S Scriven
The Science of Valuing

 
 
Donald T Campbell
Methodologist of the Experimenting Society

 
 
PART THREE: STAGE TWO THEORIES: GENERATING ALTERNATIVES EMPHASIZING USE AND PRAGMATISM
 
Carol H Weiss
Linking Evaluation to Policy Research

 
 
Joseph S Wholey
Evaluation for Program Improvement

 
 
Robert E Stake
Responsive Evaluation and Qualitative Methods

 
 
PART FOUR: STAGE THREE THEORIES: TRYING TO INTEGRATE THE PAST
 
Lee J Cronbach
Functional Evaluation Design for a World of Political Accommodation

 
 
Peter H Rossi
Comprehensive, Tailored, Theory-Driven Evaluations - A Smorgasbord of Options

 
 
PART FIVE: CONCLUSIONS
 
Summary and Implications for Evaluation Theory and Practice

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Paperback
ISBN: 9780803953017
$142.00