THE AUTHORS OFFER SUGGESTIONS FOR A MORE OBJECTIVE METHOD OF PROVING THE EFFICACY OF GOVERNMENT-FUNDED SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS AND RECOMMEND WAYS TO DEPOLITICIZE THE EVALUATION ENVIRONMENT. A CASE STUDY IS USED AS A VEHICLE FOR ILLUSTRATING AND ANALYZING MAJOR THEORETICAL POINTS. THE RESEARCH FOCUS FOR THIS CASE WAS A FEDERALLY FUNDED EXPERIMENTATION AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM CALLED THE OPPORTUNITY FUNDING CORPORATION, ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.