The Purposes, Importance, and Feasibility of Program Evaluation in Community-Based Early Intervention Programs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to gather information on service providers' perceptions related to program evaluation in community-based early intervention programs. The directors of 61 programs in Texas responded to a 22-item questionnaire. Respondents ranked eight program evaluation purposes, rated the importance and feasibility of five types of program evaluation on a Likert-type scale, and indicated on a checklist factors potentially hindering each type. Results indicated that program improvement should be the main reason for conducting program evaluation. Evaluating program goals and child progress were considered the most feasible strategies; evaluating program quality and evaluating family progress were perceived as most difficult. Although numerous factors hinder program evaluation efforts, a lack of appropriate methods and measurement instruments was perceived as the greatest constraint. Implications of these results for training and practice are discussed, and recommendations are made for future research.