CLIENTS OF NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN EVALUATION ARE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE MOTIVES OF GOVERNMENTS IN HIRING THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE POLITICAL. BECAUSE THE ATTAINMENT OF POWER IS A PROMINENT ASPECT OF LIFE WITHIN AN INSTITUTION AS WELL AS BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS, INTERNAL EVALUATION STAFF MEMBERS ARE JUST AS SUBJECT TO POLITICAL INFLUENCES AS EXTERNAL EVALUATION STAFF MEMBERS. IN SOME CASES, POLITICAL FORCES CONTROL THE POPULATION SAMPLED AND LIMIT THE DATA GATHERED. POLITICAL FORCES ALSO INFLUENCE EVALUATION DESIGNS USED, GUIDE INTERPRETATIONS OF EVALUATION FINDINGS, AND SHAPE RECOMMENDATIONS. FIVE RULES TO AID IN AVOIDING THE INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL POLITICAL FACTORS ARE OFFERED: (1) DO NOT WORK FOR ANYONE WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT BEING EVALUATED; (2) EMPLOY THE SAME OBJECTIVITY THAT WOULD BE USED IN CONDUCTING A RESEARCH STUDY; (3) REPORT FINDINGS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY HAVE NO IMPLICATIONS; (4) DO NOT WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND TRY NOT TO WORK FOR PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS; AND (5) BE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY. BECAUSE THESE RULES ARE IMPRACTICAL, HOWEVER, IT IS FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT CERTAIN PROCEDURES BE FOLLOWED TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT: (1) TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW A CLIENT THINKS; (2) REASSURE A CLIENT AT THE OUTSET OF EVALUATION THAT FINDINGS CAN BE INTERPRETED TO GIVE HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT; (5) FIND OUT WHAT POWERFUL DECISIONMAKERS WILL ACTUALLY USE AS CRITERIA FOR JUDGING THE SUCCESS OF A PROGRAM; (4) TRY TO GET A SUPERVISORY MECHANISM ESTABLISHED FOR THE EVALUATION CONTRACT THAT CONTAINS A CROSS-SECTION OF ALL POWERFUL DECISIONMAKERS; AND (5) WRITE THE EVALUATION REPORT CAREFULLY. (DEP)