Program Evaluation and Appropriate Governmental Change

Examining the potential and the limitations of evaluation, this article envisions an essential role for evaluation in achieving appropriate governmental change. That role is a deliberate one that seeks to improve the basis for policymaking, rather than to influence the direction of policy. Evaluation can do this by bringing objective information to bear on whether a proposed change—in any policy direction—is likely to reach its goals. Current limitations of evaluation are identified as resulting from the newness of the evaluation field, from differing perspectives among evaluation producers and users, and from various systemic situations which block or vitiate the evaluative effort. New uses of evaluation methodologies are proposed, along with creative management of evaluation performance. Finally, a clearinghouse to ensure the cumulative use of evaluation findings is recommended.