Decision making: A psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment PDF

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Evaluation andProgram Planning, zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Vol. 1, pp. 167-168 (1978) 0149-7189/ 78/ 0401~0167$02.00/ 0 Pergamon Press. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 0 1978 Pergamon Press CAPSULE BOOK REVIEWS Validity Issues in Evaluation Research, edited by Ilene N. Bern...

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Decision making: A psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment Kamala Kamatchi

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Evaluation andProgram Planning, zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Vol. 1, pp. 167-168 (1978) 0149-7189/ 78/ 0401~0167$02.00/ 0 Pergamon Press. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 0 1978 Pergamon Press

CAPSULE

Validity

Issues

134 pp.,

$3.95

in Evaluation (soft cover).

Research,

edited

BOOK REVIEWS

by Ilene

N. Bernstein.

Beverly

Hills,

California:

Sage Publications,

1976,

This book presents a wide ranging but non-comprehensive look at a variety of important validity issues in evaluation. The book serves as an excellent introduction to these is-

mental designs. Duane F. Alwin and Michael J. Sullivan present an enlightening discussion of problems of drawing inference from non-randomized control groups, and Ilene

sues, but standing sources. the book. marily to

N. Bernstein, George W. Bohrnstedt and Edgar F. Borgatta deal with problems in the generalizability of evaluation research findings. Although the book assumes a reasonable level of technical sophistication on the part of the reader, those with-

These

anyone who is interested in an in-depth underof any single issue will have to seek out other Fortunately these sources are well referenced in Two of the five chapters will be of interest prithose engaged in large-scale evaluation projects.

are

the

chapters

“ Some Observations Experiments.” Both son and authors’ The

on

“ Policy

on Design Issues of these chapters

remaining

York:

out such a background will still get a sense of the types of problems that must be dealt with when considering the validity of evaluative research. The book is not merely one

and

of

Katherine C. Lyall, respectively) are based on the experiences in income maintenance experiments. chapters

have

applicability

ety of evaluation situations. Robert methods of combining experimental Decision

Experiments”

in Large-Scale Social (by Andy B. Ander-

to a larger vari-

Emerging Landsberg.

Developments New York:

in Mental Health Argold Press, 1977,

This book is made up of NIMH Region II Program 1976). evaluation

The

contents mandated

the

the

new

1975

requirements

Community

of established

principles

principles.

of the more

well-known

and Commitment,

search

findings

Irving

in the field

L. Janis

and Leon

of decision

of re-

it touches on and modifica-

making.

Mann.

New

The

final

section deals with methods of intervention to change opinion. Evaluators and planners who wish to make use of the information in this book will have to do a good deal of transposing of principles and recommended practices to their particular situations. Another drawback is that the book focuses on psychological aspects of decision making, rather than decision making as part of organizational dynamics. On the other hand, in-depth knowledge of how people make decisions can be an important asset to many people

who are involved in evaluative is an excellent ors, and this book source of information on that topic.

Evaluation, $4.95.

edited

by William

Neigher,

or planning endeavand comprehensive

Roni J. Hammer,

vocative description of an “ accountability 1980, held for a federally funded community

the proceedings of an HEWEvaluation Conference (May

reflect by

Program 513 pp.,

restatements

tions

Choice,

Although this book does not deal explicitly with evaluative or planning processes, it contains valuable information for those evaluators and planners who take seriously advice about helping trapped administrators, and who believe that understanding political and organizational dynamics are prerequisite to conducting effective planning and eviluation. The book is a comprehensive presentation of the literature on how decisions are made by individuals. After an initial review and orientation which concerns sources of errors in decision making, the book comprises three major parts. The first is a discussion of the cognitive processes which are involved in decision making. This section presents the reader with theories as to how and why people arrive at decisions. The next section deals with re-

many

design. Rather, are extensions

F. Boruch deals with with quasi-experi-

Making: A Psychological Analysis of Conflict, The Free Press, 1977, 488pp., $15.95.

the

search or quasi-experimental many important issues which

for

center Health

Mental

and Gerald

conference” mental

in

health

to report to the staff and governing board of the Systems Agency for the center’s health service area.

Carol Weiss’s chapter is an articulate discussion of three means by which evaluation is political: the political basis for implementation of the program, the actors and considerations entering into decision making, and the political assumptions implicit in the design and conduct of the evaluation itself. Paul Binner examines practical implica-

Health Center Amendment (P.L. 94-63) and includes chapters on outcome studies, utilization review, problem-oriented medical records, needs assessment studies, consumer feedback studies, and citizen participation in program evaluation. More general issues in evaluation are dealt with in chapters on the impact of evaluation on management and on the politics of implementation. Evaluators and planners will find especially interesting James W. Stockdill’s presentation on “ The Future Role of Evaluation in Mental Health,” in which he provides a pro-

tions of two methods of cost analysis, cost per day and cost per patient discharged, and proposes a third method which avoids pitfalls encountered in the first two.

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