Systematic evaluation of services is needed to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. Problems which inhibit such evaluation are mainly due to the fact that most evaluations are not built into projects from the beginning. The problems include limitations on data gathering, lack of quantifiable measures, lack of resources and lack of trained evaluators with a broad interdisciplinary background and a thorough understanding of social science methodology. In addition, evaluations are inhibited because the survival of the agency often depends on the success of its programs. Despite these serious problems, serveral forces are advancing the prospects of their solution by creating performance consciousness, or awareness of the advantages of proper evaluation for the programs. They include Federal initiatives such as the Research Applied to National Needs Program of the National Science Foundation, and university programs in the area of evaluation, as well as State training programs for employees. The measures to ensure future progress should include development of evaluation procedures at the Federal level, Federal encouragement of state evaluation in the form of program aid to the States, and regular reporting of program impacts to build the data bases. Footnotes are included. For other papers in this series, see NCJ 74043.