ERIC Number: EJ689233
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 29
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1098-2140
EISSN: N/A
Modeling Trajectories in Social Program Outcomes for Performance Accountability
Gordon, Rachel A.; Heinrich, Carolyn J.
American Journal of Evaluation, v25 n2 p161-189 2004
Government and public focus on accountability for program outcomes, combined with practical and ethical constraints on experimental designs, make nonexperimental studies of social programs an increasingly common approach to producing information on program performance. In this paper, we compare the effectiveness of alternative nonexperimental evaluation methods used with longitudinal data to produce information about social program outcomes. The analysis is applied in an evaluation of a demonstration program designed to help young parents and their partners make the transition from receiving public transfer income to earned income. Empirical findings indicate that modeling outcome trajectories using multilevel methods generates more complete information about the nature of the program effects, relative to standard econometric alternatives as commonly applied in evaluations. With increased access to sources of administrative and management information system data covering multiple time points, we urge researchers to help social policy and program decision-makers appropriately model and produce more accurate information on program outcomes.
Descriptors: Program Effectiveness, Income, Evaluation Methods, Demonstration Programs, Accountability, Program Evaluation, Welfare Recipients
Sage Publications, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243 (Toll Free); Fax: 800-583-2665 (Toll Free).
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A