Methodological Considerations Affecting the Initiation and Utilization of Program Evaluation

This article addresses the methodological issues affecting the degree to which program evaluations are initiated and utilized. The problems associated with traditional program evaluations that have been conducted in the United States are presented, and alternative procedures are suggested which may serve to increase the efficacy of future evaluations performed within industrialized nations. The article is based on a paper presented at the International Symposium on Sociological Perspectives on Delinquency Prevention in 1981 at Wuppertal Germany; financial support provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinshaft (German Science Foundation).