An alternative to current program evaluations

Abstract

A critical problem in the evaluation of public programs is their nonutilization by managers of the program. There are a variety of reasons given for the nonutilization of these evaluations which, however, may be symptomatic of three basic problems: the conception, organization and management of the programs. Because of the problems characteristic of public programs, this paper proposes that the responsibility for evaluation should be assigned to program management and that outside evaluators be used to audit management's evaluation. Such an approach, besides improving the process of evaluation, could also significantly improve the information used by management to operate a program since much of the information for evaluation and program management is similar. The evaluation proposed goes beyond simply making public what programs do and how money is spent. It would indicate impact on program goals.