Suchergebnisse

Background: Program logic is one of the most used tools by the public policy evaluator. There is, however, little explanation in the evaluation literature about the logical foundations of program logic or discussion of how it may be determined if a program is logical. This paper was born on a long journey that started with program logic and ended with the logic of evaluation. Consistent throughout was the idea that the discipline of program evaluation is a pragmatic one, concerned with applied social science and effective action in complex, adaptive systems. It gradually became the central claim of this paper that evidence-based policy requires sound reasoning more urgently than further development and testing of scientific theory. This was difficult to reconcile with the observation that much evaluation was conducted within a scientific paradigm, concerned with the development and testing of various types of theory. Purpose: This paper demonstrates the benefits of considering the core essence of a program to be a proposition about the value of a course of action. This contrasts with a research-based paradigm in which programs are considered to be a type of theory, and in which experimental and theory-driven evaluations are conducted. Experimental approaches focus on internal validity of knowledge claims about programs and on discovering stable cause and effect relationships—or, colloquially, 'what works?'. Theory-driven approaches tend to focus on external validity and in the case of the realist approach, the search for transfactual causal mechanisms—extending the 'what works' mantra to include 'for whom and in what circumstances'. On both approaches, evaluation aspires to be a scientific pursuit for obtaining knowledge of general laws of phenomena, or in the case of realists, replicable context-mechanism-outcome configurations. This paper presents and seeks to justify an approach rooted in logic, and that supports anyone to engage in a reasonable and democratic deliberation about the value of a course of action. It is consistent with systems thinking, complexity and the associated limits to certainty for determining the value of a proposed, or actual, course of action in the social world. It suggests that evaluation should learn from the past and have an eye toward the future, but that it would be most beneficial if concerned with evaluating in the present, in addressing the question 'is this a good idea here and now? Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable Research design: Not applicable. Findings: In seeking foundations of program logic, this paper exposes roots that extend far deeper than the post-enlightenment, positivist and post-positivist social science search for stable cause and effect relationships. These roots lie in the 4th century BCE with Aristotle's 'enthymeme'. The exploration leads to conclusions about the need for a greater focus on logic and reasoning in the design and evaluation of programs and interventions for the public good. Science and research are shown to play a crucial role in providing reasons or warrants to support a claim about the value of a course of action; however, one subordinate to the alpha-discipline of logical evaluation and decision making that must consider what is feasible given the context, capability and capacity available, not to mention values and ethics. Program Design Logic (PDL) is presented as an accessible and incremental innovation that may be used to determine if a program makes sense 'on paper' in the design stage as well as 'in reality' during delivery. It is based on a configurationalist theory of causality and the concepts of 'necessary' and 'sufficient' conditions. It is intended to guide deliberation and decision making across the life cycle of any intervention intended for the public good. Keywords: Program logic; program theory; theory of change; program design logic; logic of evaluation; theory of causality; INUS condition

Scientific evaluation seeks to develop and test theories that describe and explain the value of interventions into the world. Realist approaches to scientific evaluation tend to be strong on theory and explanation, but lack adequate tests or means of validating theory. The focus of this article is the potential for randomisation and experimentation to provide evidence for transfactual (i.e. reusable or portable) context–mechanism–outcome configurations (CMOs) in complex adaptive systems. The article is not concerned with attribution of outcomes to past programs but for developing scientific knowledge that can be used for future interventions. It seeks to elucidate the warrant that underpins the randomised controlled trial (RCT) and why it is useful in some fields of science but less so in complex social systems. Realist RCTs are considered but rejected; instead a form of propensity score matching is proposed for testing realist program theory, estimating the effect size of a purported CMO, and generating scientific knowledge for developing more effective interventions into complex social systems.

This descriptive study examined the relationship between untreated dental caries and functional status among 958 dentate nursing home residents aged 65 and over. Functional status was measured by the Physical Self‐Maintenance Scale (PSMS). The PSMS assessment revealed that 32% of subjects were unable to perform all activities, and only 10% could perform all activities. Overall, 59% of subjects had untreated coronal decay and 46% had untreated root decay. In bivariate analysis, untreated coronal and root caries experiences were significantly associated with PSMS limitations, lack of dental care utilization, sex, and number of remaining teeth. Stratified analysis suggested an interaction between functional status and dental care utilization. Among subjects who had received dental care in the preceding year, PSMS status was not significantly related to untreated caries experience; but among subjects who had not received care, PSMS status was significantly related to untreated caries experience. In logistic regression analysis of untreated root decay, a significant interaction was found between PSMS status and dental care utilization. However, in logistic regression analysis of untreated coronal caries, no significant interaction was found; significant independent effects were found for dental care utilization and number of remaining teeth, but not for PSMS status.

The concept of the shortened dental arch (SDA) was used to classify the dentition status and normative treatment needs of older adults. From 1982 to 1992, a descriptive survey was conducted in North York, Canada, of 1531 dentate adults aged 65 and over; 69% were nursing home residents. Based on the SDA concept, a "good" quadrant was defined as one which contained all premolar and anterior teeth. A "good" arch was defined as one which had two "good" quadrants. Only 6.3% of nursing home subjects and 7.5% of independently living subjects were classified as having "good" upper and lower arches; these subjects were considered to have a "functional dentition" by the criteria of the SDA concept. For subjects of both residence types, a higher percentage had a "good" lower arch (20%, 30%) as compared with a "good" upper arch (9%, 13%), and a higher proportion of non‐denture wearers had "good" arches and quadrants compared with denture wearers. The most common reason for failure to meet SDA criteria was due to the loss of one or more upper premolar teeth; loss of lower canines was least frequently the reason. For subjects of both residence types, normative need for tooth extraction and prosthetic care was significantly associated with having no "good" arches. This was found for both denture wearers and non‐denture wearers. Among non‐denture wearers of both residence types, the need for urgent care was significantly associated with having no "good" arches

Der Dualismus zwischen der hochentwickelten exportorientierten Industrie und dem traditionellen landwirtschaftlichen Sektor der Subsistenzwirtschaft wird noch durch die politischen Faktoren (Rassentrennung, Landverteilung) sichtbar verstärkt. Analyse von Arbeitsmarkt, Volkseinkommen, Wirtschaftswachtum, Terms of Trade, Preissteigerung, Steuern, staatliche Wirtschaftspolitik etc

Intertidal Ecology -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- The shore environment: major gradients 1 -- Patterns of distribution 2 -- Causes of zonation 3 -- Community dynamics 4 -- Coping with the physical and biological environment 5 -- The shore as a system 6 -- Human impact on the shore 7 -- Studying shores 8 -- References -- Species index -- Subject index.