Author: Lynn Lyons Morris

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 1987-12

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 9780803931329

The "CSE Program Evaluation Kit" is a series of nine books intended to assist people conducting program evaluations. This volume, the seventh in the kit, provides an overview of a variety of approaches to measuring performance outcomes. It presents considerations in deciding what to measure and in selecting or developing instruments best suited to an evaluation's goals. Methods for ensuring validity and reliability are also discussed. Chapter 1, "Measuring Performance for Program Evaluation: Preliminary Considerations," presents an overview of various strategies to systematically measure the attainment of performance objectives. Chapter 2, "Locating Existing Measures," describes the types of performance tests that might already be available, from commercially published instruments, curriculum embedded tests, and state- or local-mandated measures. Chapter 3, "Determining How Well a Test Fits the Program," provides assistance in determining the appropriateness of an existing instrument. Chapter 4, "Constructing a Test for Program Evaluation," describes the basic steps in developing a performance measure. Chapters 5, "Validity and Reliability of Performance Instruments," and 6, "Using Performance Test Data," deal with the technical quality and use of tests. One appendix contains a table for program-test comparison, and the other presents a reminder of some common item construction errors. (Contains 20 tables, 16 figures, and 19 references.) (SLD)