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Improving program evaluation with reciprocal indicators

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Abstract

Recent interest in social indicators of change has emphasized the unidimensional monitoring of social programs. Reciprocal indicators permit the recording of two-dimensional, or contrasting, trends within a selected system thereby providing efficient evaluation of program effectiveness. A religious indicator of congregation size, illustrates the differences in these two forms of indicators. Suggestions are made regarding application of reciprocal indicators and the policy implications associated with such use.

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Revision of a paper presented to the Annual Meetings of the Eastern Sociological Society, April 5–7, 1974; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I wish to thank Richard G. Sipes for his criticisms and helpful comments on parts of this manuscript and for his encouragement toward publication.

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Fontane, P.E. Improving program evaluation with reciprocal indicators. Soc Indic Res 2, 211–221 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300536

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300536

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