Foundations of Program Evaluation

Theories of Practice
Foundations of Program Evaluation
November 1990 | 536 pages | Sage US
Create Flyer

Purchase

Paperback
ISBN: 9780803953017
Available from January 0001

Description

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.

Contents

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

Description

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.

Contents

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
SAGE Publishing Logo

Foundations of Program Evaluation

Theories of Practice


November 1990 | 536 pages | Sage US

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 28/02/2026 9780803953017 $169.00

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.


Table Of Contents:

  • 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

Recent Product Reviews:

Recommendations