The purpose of this paper is to encourage the reader to distinguish between evaluation and other information-gathering procedures, to distinguish between measures of efficiency and effectiveness, and to make informed decisions about when to use evaluation rather than another procedure for producing information about a project. Material is divided into types of information-gathering activities, types of evaluative research, preliminary questions preceding selection of type of evaluation, suggestions for further resources relative to the technical aspects of evaluative research and an outline of tasks involved. Although specifically written for judicial programs for juveniles, these step-by-step procedures can be applied to other evaluation efforts. (Author/BEF)