| Abstract: | The paper wishes to relocate the theme of social indicators within one of their most congenial reference frames, that of the social or community programming-evaluation process. It defines what a program is and also the meaning “program structure”. Further, it argues the relationship between objectives in the definition of program structures, and it develops a procedure to build the program structure and to apply a program analysis and evaluation. Finally, it considers, more in general, the nature and classification of program indicators and the criteria for the choice of types of program indicators in different circumstances. The discussion is supported with two examples of program structuring and the related selection of program indicators taken from two very different programs instigated by the Italian government: one is a program of aid for the poor and undernourished population of the third world; and the second is the 10 year plan for the environment beyond the year 2000. |
