Re: theory-based or theory-driven evaluations

[Shari Ben Natan <sharben@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Excuse my ignorance... 

Maybe it's because I'm on the other side of the world and not really up on
the latest jargon...

but what is theory-based or theory-driven evaluations???
Are not all evaluation based on theory?
Can someone please enlighten me?

Shari Ben Natan

At 09:40 23/02/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Dear Child-Maltreatment-Research-L members:
>
>The Harvard Project on Schooling & Children is trying to obtain reports of
>"theory-based or theory-driven" evaluations.  
>
>In these kind of evaluations, there is a clear theory about why the program
>is supposed to work on the outcome measure of interest.  Usually this
>includes an analysis of both intermediate and outcome measures.
>Intermediate measures are those that measure the crucial linkages in the
>pathway to the outcomes.
>
>For example, a program theorizes that to impact delinquency, it must change
>the "self-concept" of juveniles.  A theory-based evaluation of this
>program, would at minimum, include measures of self-concept and
delinquency.  
>
>If anyone has conducted or knows about a theory-based or theory-driven
>evaluation, we would love to acquire the reference/citation.  We have
>covered the electronic data bases (NCJRS, CJ Abstracts, Sociofile,
>Psychinfo, Eric, Medline, NCCAN, etc.), but our search terms may have
>missed important references.
>
>Thank you in advance for any help you may provide.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Anthony
>__________
>
>____________
>
>Anthony J. Petrosino 
>Spencer Post-Doctoral Fellow in Evaluation
>Harvard Project on Schooling & Children
>126 Mt. Auburn Street
>Cambridge, MA 02138
>
>Phone:617-496-6882
>Fax:  617-495-1994
>Email:Petrosan@hugse1.harvard.edu
>
>