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MODELS AND POLICY EVALUATION - OIL AND WATER?

NCJ Number
54009
Author(s)
R G CASSIDY
Date Published
1977
Length
28 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF STRUCTURED, LOGICAL MODELS IN EVALUATING FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICE IN CANADA IS EXAMINED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ENHANCING THE UTILITY OF SUCH MODELS IN PUBLIC POLICY EVALUATION ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
POLICY EVALUATION INVOLVES IDENTIFYING A MAJOR GOVERNMENT THRUST AND COMPARING CONDITIONS BEFORE AND AFTER THE POLICY EMBODYING THAT THRUST IS IMPLEMENTED. THE MODELS UNDER CONSIDERATION ARE NOT GENERAL PROCESS AND/OR CONCEPTUAL BLUEPRINTS, BUT RATHER THOSE THAT FOLLOW MATHEMATICAL RULES OF LOGIC. THE USE OF THESE QUANTITATIVE MODELS IN CANADA'S FEDERAL POLICY EVALUATION PROCESS, PARTICULARLY IN THE REALM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION, IS REVIEWED, AND CONSTRAINTS AND PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY POLICY EVALUATORS ARE IDENTIFIED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT QUANTITATIVE MODELS CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY EVALUATION, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NOT LIVED UP TO EXPECTATIONS. AN IMPORTANT CONSTRAINT IS THE VERY NATURE OF THE SOCIAL SYSTEMS THAT ENTER INTO POLICY EVALUATION. UNLIKE PHYSICAL, TECHNICAL, AND MILITARY SYSTEMS, SOCIAL SYSTEMS DO NOT LEND THEMSELVES TO WELL DEFINED, DETERMINISTIC STRUCTURES. CARE MUST BE TAKEN IN APPLYING QUANTITATIVE MODELS TO SUCH SYSTEMS. THE EVALUATIVE PROBLEM ITSELF MUST NOT BE CONCERNED EXCLUSIVELY WITH CONCEPTUAL MATTERS AND/OR CONFLICTS IN VALUES, BUT MUST BE AMENABLE TO SOME DESIGN OF STRUCTURING AND MUST OFFER SOME DATA USEFUL IN ANALYSIS. OTHERWISE THE PROBLEM WILL BE ADDRESSED NOT BY QUANTITATIVE MODELS BUT BY QUALITATIVE AND CONCEPTUAL ARGUMENTS REGARDING WHAT IS TO BE EVALUATED. THOSE WHO DESIGN EVALUATIVE MODELS NEED TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE AGENCIES WHOSE POLICIES ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO ENSURE THE MODEL'S USABILITY AND RELEVANCE, AND YET SUFFICIENTLY DETACHED TO REMAIN OBJECTIVE. CONSTRAINTS IN USING QUANTITATIVE MODELS IN THE POLICY EVALUATION CONTEXT MUST BE RECOGNIZED SO THAT FALSE EXPECTATIONS CAN BE AVOIDED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)

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