Guidelines have been developed by the Committee on Professional Practice and Standards of the American Psychological Association Board of Professional Affairs for psychological evaluations in child-protection matters. The 17 guidelines, which are not mandatory, may be useful to many interested parties, but are designed primarily for psychologists…

A mnemonic is suggested to help evaluators remember the five guiding principles of evaluation developed by the American Evaluation Association. A character from F. Baum's "Wizard of Oz" is associated with each of these: (1) systematic inquiry; (2) competence; (3) respect for people; (4) responsibility to general and public welfare; and…

Statistical neighbour models provide one method for benchmarking progress. For each local authority (LA), these models designate a number of other LAs deemed to have similar characteristics. These designated LAs are known as statistical neighbours. Any LA may compare its performance (as measured by various indicators) against its statistical…

The purpose of this Guide is to advise researchers, policymakers, and others on when it is possible to conduct a high-quality randomized controlled trial in education at reduced cost. Well-designed randomized controlled trials are recognized as the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention (i.e., program or practice) in…

Observational approaches used by ecological psychologists can focus on the behavior of persons or on their settings. The options for subject-centered observation are diary methods, specimen records, time sampling, and event sampling or critical incident recording. Serious limitations correlated to the time interval method, as it is often applied,…

The Lincoln County School District in Oregon evaluates its 18 principals two or three times each year through a team evaluation program. The evaluation process includes a comprehensive assessment form detailing 26 standards of performance. Includes a sidebar outlining the eight areas and standards for evaluation. (MD)

Outlines the development and use of the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ-RS) developed for use in secondary schools by Rutgers University. It is a 34-item climate instrument that measures two aspects of principal leadership and five aspects of school interaction. Includes 4 tables. (MD)

Techniques to assess complex features of employment include situational assessment, observational assessment (participant observation, naturalistic observation), and quantification of behaviors. Such data provide a basis for comparing disabled and nondisabled workers, help prioritize instructional objectives, and direct placement decisions. (CL)

The basic understanding which underlies scientific evidence--ideas such as the structure of experiments, causality, repeatability, validity and reliability--is not straightforward. But these ideas are needed to judge evidence in school science, in physics or chemistry or biology or psychology, in undergraduate science, and in understanding…

This paper applies the quality concept of continuous improvement to academic departments, very few of which engage in a continuous improvement (CI) initiative. The goal of a CI initiative is for a department to become self-regarding, self-monitoring, and self-correcting. CI efforts begin with the development of a department-level assessment plan…

This guide demystifies the process of evaluation by explaining the components of an evaluation design. It is designed to help program or project managers understand that they are an integral part of the evaluation process and a beneficiary of the results. The book can be used in all sectors of the organizational world, including education. The…

The use of a qualitative technique, the evaluator's journal, is proposed for supplementing quantitative methods of program evaluation. The journal's functions are described as a data storage instrument, biography of the program, and source of feedback. Five types, or approaches, illustrate its capability for accommodating unique needs. (GK)

Provides guidelines that may be used by supervisors as a checklist to assist them in conducting evaluation procedures that show proper concern and understanding for the needs of the classroom teacher. (Author/IRT)

A seven-step comprehensive evaluation process, which athletic directors may use to evaluate coaches, is outlined. Pre-season, in-season, and post-season activities are given. An example of performance review criteria is included. The article emphasizes the motivational aspects of constructive feedback. (IAH)

Provides managers with specific guidance on developing and using logic models. For the last 20 years logic models have been used largely in program evaluations to chart what should have happened and what did or did not occur as intended. Logic models start with inputs and work through processes to the desired end state, whether output or outcome.…