Program Evaluation: Who Should Do It?

A central question to evaluative research at all levels is, Who should do it? In evaluating drug abuse programs three groups might be involved: treatment personnel, administrative or research personnel, and outside research professionals. This paper presents some advantages and disadvantages to the involvement of each of these groups within the context of five core dimensions: design bias, response bias, trust and access, expertise, and experimental control. At the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto, California, a team with representatives from each of three personnel groups is evaluating the drug abuse treatment programs. We believe this model allows us to maximize the advantages and minimize the disadvantages of each group's involvement in evaluative research. (Author/MLP)