IN ADDITION TO A SIX-STEP STRUCTURE OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS, HINTS AND INSIGHTS ADDRESS THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS RAISED BY PRACTITIONERS INVOLVED IN ASSESSMENTS OF THEIR PROGRAMS. THE FIRST STEP FOCUSES ON UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE AND LIMITATIONS OF AN EVALUATION AND PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK BY WHICH THE ADMINISTRATOR DEVELOPS A REALISTIC CONCEPTION OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS. THE NEXT STEP DEALS WITH DEVELOPING A WORKING PAPER, AN INFORMAL DOCUMENT WHICH ACTS AS A PLAN OR ROAD MAP TO HELP THE ADMINISTRATOR MANAGE THE STUDY DURING THE PRE-EVALUATION PERIOD. THE WORKING PAPER DESCRIBES THE ANALYTICAL STRUCTURE OF THE STUDY, INCLUDING THE GOAL STATEMENT, QUESTIONS, ASSUMPTIONS, COMPARISONS, AND OUTCOMES; IT ALSO PROVIDES A WORK PLAN WHICH INCLUDES THE DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS ACTIVITIES OF THE EVALUATION. THE THIRD STEP INVOLVES PREPARING A PROPOSAL AND COVERS THE STRUCTURE OF A PROPOSAL, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BUDGET, AND SOURCES OF EVALUATION FUNDING. THE NEXT STEP--PREPARING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)--PROVIDES SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING AN EFFECTIVE RFP. THE FINAL TWO STEPS INVOLVE STAFFING CONCERNS--EMPLOYING A RESEARCHER AND WORKING WITH POLICYMAKERS AND STAFF. A FRAMEWORK FOR THE SELECTION OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE RESEARCHER IS OUTLINED, ALONG WITH THE WAY IN WHICH THE ADMINISTRATOR INVOLVES LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE PRE-EVLUATION PERIOD. CHARTS ARE INCLUDED.