IT DESCRIBES EVALUATION TECHNIQUES AND APPROACHES AND PRESENTS A CASE STUDY OF AN INTERNAL EVALUATION PRODUCED BY SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INC. (SERD) OF AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE FIRM FOR OVER TWO YEARS (1971-1973). (SERD IS A DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-BASED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND CONSULTING ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1964.) THE CASE STUDY PROVIDES A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PRIVATELY-OPERATED SERD/CONGRESS HEIGHTS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAM WITH A SIMILAR PROGRAM OPERATED BY A PUBLIC AGENCY. IN ADDITION, IT SHOWS STEPBY-STEP, CONCRETE WAYS IN WHICH EVALUATION CAN BE EFFECTIVELY APPLIED, OUTLINING THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF HOW THE EVALUATION WAS DESIGNED, THE QUESTIONS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO ANSWER, THE TECHNIQUES USED TO GET THE ANSWERS, AND THE CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT RESULTED FROM THE EVALUATION. (THE SERD/CONGRESS HEIGHTS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER WAS A COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY FOR CONVICTED YOUTHFUL FELONS, CONFINED TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS' TWO YOUTH CENTERS IN LORTON, VIRGINIA. THE MAJOR THRUST OF THE CENTER'S COUNSELING PROGRAM WAS TO PROVIDE THE DIRECTION, STIMULI, AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO ASSIST RESIDENTS IN SECURING EMPLOYMENT, TO REMAIN DRUG-FREE, AND TO PLAN AND PREPARE FOR RELEASE OR PAROLE.) THIS REPORT ALSO DESCRIBES AND INCLUDES SAMPLE OF BASIC FORMS, PROCEDURES, AND SYSTEMS NECESSARY TO PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE DATA BASE FOR EVALUATION. IN ADDITION, A SAMPLE FORMAT IS PRESENTED FOR A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM TESTED AND USED BY SERD TO TRACK PROGRAM RESIDENTS AND CLIENTS. A TEN-PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS A GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED IN THE SERD CASE STUDY EVALUATION.