Knowledge, interests and the many meanings of evaluation: a developmental perspective

The problems addressed by evaluation research and practice are the problems that emerged in the efforts to form, consolidate, and reform the modern welfare state. Each of these problems are linked with stakeholders with divergent and often conflicting interests. One of the major characteristics of the history of evaluation research has been efforts to develop evaluation theory, design and methodology that are responsive to the knowledge interests of different stakeholders.     

Ethics,Gender, and Ethnicity in Single-Case Research and Evaluation

Social work practitioners and students are now being encouraged to do single-case research or at least, to evaluate their practice outcomes objectively. Ethical issues in both endeavors, including issues related to clients' gender and ethnicity, need more attention than they have been given. This article explores a number of ethical issues in single-case research and evaluation, with special attention to possible gender and ethnic bias in selecting clients or target problems to monitor. Guidelines for reducing bias, seeking informed client consent, and use of human subjects review are proposed.     

城乡低保资金绩效评价指标体系构建研究

城乡低保资金绩效评价是完善低保制度,加强财政专项支出绩效管理的内在要求。鉴于现有低保资金绩效评价指标体系存在的问题,借鉴平衡计分卡绩效评价系统,构建比较全面、平衡和具有战略性的低保资金绩效评价指标体系,并合理设定指标内涵、评价标准及指标权重,以确保评价的全面性、科学性,有利于发现既有低保制度中的问题并及时改进。     

Transforming the Evaluation of the Rule of Law in China*

Over the past ten years, China has seen a number of practices exploring the evaluation of the rule of law. It is important that we sum up the practical experience of these evaluations, analyze the problems they encounter, determine their direction nationwide, and put forward constructive ideas. With the issuing of the Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Some Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening the Reform and the Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Promoting a Number of Major Issues of the Rule of Law, evaluation of the rule of law faces a transformation both in theory and in practice. The key points in this transformation are having the right orientation, innovative mechanisms and solutions to tricky issues of quantitative evaluation; summing up evaluation of experience; and elevating evaluation to the level of theory. A precondition for its effective evaluation is a scientific mechanism for evaluating the rule of law; in turn, the key to a scientific evaluation is solving the problems in quantitative evaluation of the rule of law; and the necessary requirements for evaluation practice are summing up evaluation experience and elevating it to the level of theory. The key to innovative mechanisms for evaluating the rule of law lies in implementation of the third party evaluation model and in quantitative evaluation that starts with particular programs.     

Methods for Studying the Structure of Social Representations: A Critical Review and Agenda for Future Research

This article deals with the methodologies commonly used in the framework of the structural approach to social representations. It concerns free and hierarchical evocations, the characterization questionnaire, the similarity analysis, the basic cognitive schemes model, the attribute‐challenge technique and the test of context independence. More than a simple review of these methodologies, it offers a critical approach concerning the problems encountered and related to: thresholds or “cutoff points” used to diagnose the structure (core vs. periphery) and the accuracy of the structural diagnosis, grouping methods employed to reduce the corpus of verbal associations, the dilemma between reliability and feasibility, especially in field research, the adequacy and number of modalities of response in the framework of the structural diagnosis. Following this evaluation, this article suggests potential solutions to overcome these methodological limitations. Moreover, as methodological issues are closely related to theoretical questions, the link between social representation theory and identity approaches is discussed.     

Ethnic Attitudes Among Minority and Majority Children: The Role of Ethnic Identification, Peer Group Victimization and Parents

This study examines the relative importance of key variables proposed by intergroup and social learning theories for understanding ethnic attitudes. The focus is on how ethnic identification, perceived parental attitudes and victimization by peers are related to ethnic attitudes. The sample includes Dutch (N = 295) and Turkish (N = 158) children (10–12 years of age) in the Netherlands. For both ethnic groups, stronger ethnic identification is related to more positive in‐group evaluation, and a higher degree of victimization relates to more negative out‐group evaluation. Furthermore, parental attitudes are related to out‐group evaluation. Higher perceived in‐group favoritism among parents was related to a less positive evaluation of the out‐group. In addition, Turkish parental attitudes turn out to be related to ethnic identification and in‐group evaluation. Further analyses suggest that the effect of perceived parental attitudes on children's group evaluations is not only due to projection. It is concluded that the study of ethnic attitudes among children should focus on group identification as well as on the social influences of parents and peers. Furthermore, it is important to distinguish between in‐group and out‐group aspects of ethnic attitudes and to include both majority and minority children.     

我国资信评估业发展中存在的问题及对策

目前 ,我国资信评估业经过十余年的发展 ,仍然存在着资信评估机构缺乏自主性 ,未能做到独立运行 ,资信评估效应不显著 ,资信评估指标不统一 ,方法各异等需要解决的问题。尤其是在我国加入WT0后 ,加快发展我国的资信评估业具有极其深刻的现实意义     

Within- and between-person associations among internalizing and externalizing problems during middle childhood

Internalizing and externalizing problems are likely to co-occur in childhood and are related to concurrent and prospective mental health outcomes. We examined the longitudinal relations among internalizing and externalizing problems during middle childhood utilizing the Random Intercept – Cross Lagged Panel Model. We investigated three research questions: (1) how overall levels of internalizing and externalizing problems are related, (2) whether internalizing and externalizing problems predict each other longitudinally, and (3) whether girls and boys show different longitudinal associations among internalizing and externalizing problems. Mother-reported internalizing and externalizing problems were used through first to sixth grade (N = 1364). Results showed positive random intercepts and positive within-time correlations of internalizing and externalizing problems. Further, internalizing problems predicted externalizing problems at the within-person level. Although previous research mostly has shown a significant effect from externalizing problems to internalizing problems, the current study shows that when within- and between-person variance are disentangled, internalizing problems also may predict externalizing problems.     

论长三角区域生态治理政府间的协作

长三角区域作为中国综合实力最强的区域之一,在经济高速发展的同时,区域内的生态治理问题日益凸显。区域内各政府间面临着生态治理合作理念淡薄、生态补偿机制不完善、利益协调机制不健全、政绩考核体系单一等问题。面对这些问题,区域内政府要更新思想观念,建立＂双赢＂的利益协调机制、建立健全法律机制、健全生态补偿机制以及通过完善政绩评估体系等途径来推动生态治理合作。     

Uses of Time-Series Designs for Formative Program Evaluation

Potential uses of time-series designs for formative program evaluation are illustrated, and the relationship between single-case experiments and quasi-experimental time-series designs is discussed. Four variations of time-series design are presented: interrupted time-series with follow-up, replicated time-series, step-wise time-series, and time-series with reversal patterns. Advantages and limitations of each design are considered in relation to program evaluation, and attention is given to special problems in using time-series data in organizational research.     

Everybody needs good neighbours: an evaluation of an intensive project for families facing eviction

This paper presents details of a largely qualitative evaluation of an intensive multi‐method Project, with a residential component, which aims to help families facing eviction to overcome their housing‐related difficulties. The families served by the Project had a host of other problems related to parenting, with child care and protection issues, addictions and mental health difficulties figuring prominently. Just over half the referrals came from the local authority housing services, with nearly all the remainder coming from the social work department. The majority of families made good progress, but in some cases it proved harder to have an impact on parenting than on tenancy‐related matters. Nevertheless, the Project was deemed to have helped some families stay together or be reunited, resulting in substantial financial savings for social work services. Crucial ingredients were good management, stable staff, shared ‘ownership’ by other agencies, a repertoire of challenging methods, and a holistic approach.     

社工专业实习中的超能与超权问题研究

通过对本系2006级学生的专业实习进行的跟踪调查,探讨专业实习中遇到的超出能力范围和超出权力范围的问题,发现这些问题主要出现在专业的实习机构,问题的类型有情感心理问题、与家庭相关的问题和求助者自身发展的问题,其中超出权利范围的问题主要出现在带由政府性质的机构中。导致遭遇这种问题的原因有问题本身的特殊性、实习生自身的原因和学校的原因。解决这类问题的对策有加强学生专业素质的培养、加强学校督导和机构对社工专业实习的积极配合。     

Sleep among youths in foster care: Associations with potentially traumatic events,PTSD and mental health

Among maltreated youth in foster care, little is known about frequency of sleep problems and its association to potential traumatic events (PTEs) and mental health. Among youths in foster care, we examined: (1) sleep patterns, difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS) and related functional impairment; (2) whether exposure to PTEs, symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and general mental health problems are associated with DIMS and related functional impairment, controlling for age, gender and time in foster care; and (3) whether PTSD and general mental health problems mediate the association between PTEs and DIMS. Foster youths in Norway (n = 299) completed a survey on sleep behaviour, the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Overall, 53.2% reported DIMS. For 82.1%, these sleep problems had lasted 3 months plus. Increased PTEs, PTSD and general mental health problems were all associated with increased DIMS score. Increased rate of PTEs was associated with decreased sleep duration. PTSD and general mental health problems partially mediated the association between PTEs and DIMS. Youth in foster care are at high risk of sleep problems, related to traumatic experiences and mental health problems. Treatment of PTSD may improve sleep problems among maltreated youth.     

大学生心理健康学校社会工作评估方法应用研究

本文尝试将模糊综合评价法应用于大学生心理健康学校社会工作评估中。基本思路为：首先,简要介绍模糊综合评价法的原理;其次,以泸州医学院为例,实证检验模糊综合评价法在大学生心理健康学校社会工作评估中的可行性和适用性;最后,得出有关研究结论和建议。     

Evaluation and public service quality

Public service quality is a recent trend in the context of new public management. During the 1990s, public service quality initiatives have been launched in numerous countries at various levels of government. These initiatives have involved a variety of approaches: professional standard setting, service excellence based on users' perception of quality, government granted rights and choice for consumers, and the activity of consumer movements. Public service quality is considered on three levels: the micro level related to the output of the service delivery, the meso level related to the outcome of the service, and the macro level related to public values. Various stakeholders of evaluations of service quality efforts are identified and their expected use of evaluation is discussed. Three roles of education are described: one in the implementation of public service quality, another in evaluation of the success of service quality initiatives, and a third role of evaluating higher levl outcomes. It is argued that even if evaluation techniques are necessary tools for improving service quality at the micro level during implementation, it is even more important to evaluate these initiatives against higher level policy goals and social values.     

Enhancing Recovery from Trauma: Facilitating a Mindfulness Skills Group on a Department of Veterans Affairs Inpatient PTSD Unit

Mindfulness and acceptance based treatments are being increasingly implemented for a variety of emotional and psychological related problems, including the impact of military and combat related trauma exposure. This article describes a mindfulness skills group as it was implemented on a sub-acute inpatient PTSD Unit at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, to demonstrate and explore the role of the mindfulness skills development in a group setting, for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other trauma related problems.     

Evaluation of international corruption indexes: Should we believe them or not?

In this paper, we employ, and test the reliability and validity, of multiple corruption related datasets such as the Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International, the Control of Corruption Index of the World Bank, the International Country Risk Guide of PRS, the World Value Survey, the Bribe Payers Index, and the International Crime Victimization Survey. We find evidence that the reliability of international corruption indexes has improved over the years. However, a number of shortcomings – such as the risk of selection bias, longitudinal sensitivity, and measurement errors that are inherent in composite indexes – are commonly observed. These problems are critical enough to affect the results of empirical analysis, as we illustrate using linear models. Therefore, we conclude that researchers should pay more attention towards minimizing the impact of measurement error through rigorous data screening and robustness tests using multiple data sources and methods. A thorough and systematic evaluation of the reliability and validity of international corruption indexes is essential to increase their usefulness.     

Internationally adopted children's general and adoption‐specific stressors,coping strategies and psychological adjustment

We examined stress, coping and psychological adjustment of 68 children, aged 8–12, who were internationally adopted to Spain. Using the Kidcope, all children were asked about the most stressful general and adoption‐related problem they experienced and the use and effectiveness of various coping strategies when dealing with the problem. For all reported problems, the nature of the problem (personal, interpersonal, regarding others), the content, the degree of stress it created and its perceived controllability were analysed. Emotional and behavioural functionings were assessed with the Behaviour Assessment System for Children. About half of the children mentioned specific problems concerning the adoption, with inracial adoptees reporting less adoption‐related problems than transracial adoptees. For general and adoption‐related problems, interpersonal problems were mentioned most often. With regard to the content, ‘relationships’ and ‘victimization’ were mentioned most often for general and adoption‐related problems, respectively. Adoption‐related problems were appraised as less controllable. No differences emerged in terms of coping with general or adoption‐related problems except for ‘self‐criticism’. Overall, the children used many coping strategies and were generally well‐adjusted. Identifying the problems and coping strategies of adoptees is important in order to help these children and their families tackle these stressors.     

Predictors of gambling problems among male adolescents

The study concerns prediction of gambling problems in 178 male adolescents (aged 16 and 18 years) who completed a questionnaire, which included the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), a version of the Temperament and Character Inventory and a number of questions concerning social background, emotional and life-style factors. About 27% of the boys gamble at least weekly. As many as 16% qualify as probable pathological gamblers according to the SOGS. Another 7% are at risk. None of the social background factors are related to severity of gambling problems. The only significant family factor is parental substance misuse. The optimal multivariate model predicts about 30% of the variance in gambling problems. The strongest factor is frequency of alcohol drinking. Several factors indicate a personality with problems in relations to others. Another factor indicates a dreamy personality. Unexpectedly, impulsiveness is not related to gambling. In conclusion, problem gambling among male adolescents is related to life-style and personality, especially in relation to others, but not to usual social background factors. Gamblers are asocial rather than impulsive. The nature of this finding should be further explored, since an asocial personality may point at genetics as well as to early social influences, as may the finding on the relation between gambling and parental drinking.     

社会工作机构评估制度建构问题研究——基于绩效评估的视角

本文拟应用绩效评估的有关理论和方法,对社会工作服务机构的绩效评估问题进行论述,以期对社会工作服务机构的评估制度建构有所贡献。