The application of PERT in evaluation of human service programs

In this study a strategy well known to industry. Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), was used to evaluate the community placement procedures in one institution for retarded. Case file review of two samples of residents was used to develop PERT networks showing movements between various living and vocational training settings. Analysis of these networks provided data and pinpointed needed procedural changes to meet the placement objective. The large number of recommendations derived from PERT and supplemental data provided evidence that PERT can be a valuable evaluation package component in institutions for the retarded. Evaluation applications in other human service systems were suggested.