Evolution of Evaluation in a Human Service Setting

From Low to High Tech and Beyond

Abstract

Even with the recent focus on utilization, the field of program evaluation still emphasizes technique over concept. This article traces the evolution of program evaluation at a human service agency, describing each stage of this evaluation function; presenting the context, primary models, and impacts of the internal evaluation activities’, and drawing conclusions about why it is important to attend to the broad context of evaluation technologies. The article suggests that only a broader and deeper systems perspective can help us narrow the gap between what we desire from our program evaluation services and what we can actually deliver.