Linking auditing and meta evaluation : enhancing quality in applied research / Thomas A. Schwandt, Edward S. Halpern.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Schwandt, Thomas A.

Contributor:

Halpern, Edward Scott, 1952-

Series:

Applied social research methods series ; v. 11.

Applied social research methods series ; v. 11

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social sciences--Research--Evaluation.

Social sciences.

Social sciences--Research.

Physical Description:

160 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Newbury Park, Calif. : Sage Publications, [1988]

Summary:

The emergence of new evaluation paradigms raises serious questions about how merit can be established and judged. Linking Auditing and Metaevaluation addresses this concern, introducing a strategy by which the quality of inquiry procedures and products can be assured and retrospectively assessed. Based upon the model of fiscal auditing, the technique is applicable to a variety of social scientific investigations and specifically includes non - conventional paradigms such as naturalistic evaluation. Effective regardless of the nature of the inquiry, auditing is also an excellent means of organizing data, thus promoting theorizing and identification of relationships in that data. Each section includes exercises designed both to encoura

Contents:

1. Linking Auditing and Metaevaluation 17

Definitions and Applications of Auditing 19

Auditing as a Tool for Metaevaluation 22

Reasons for Making a Third-Party Examination 24

Parties to an Examination 26

Role and Qualifications of the Third-Party Examiner 28

2. Differentiating Standards, Procedures, and Accepted Principles 42

Standards for Auditing and Metaevaluation 42

Procedures for Auditing and Metaevaluation 45

The Issue of Accepted Principles 50

Auditing Evaluations 56

3. Preparing an Audit Report 60

Elements of a Written Final Report 60

Reporting Formats 66

The Auditor's Responsibility 68

4. Constructing an Audit Trail 71

Preparing an Audit Trail 75

Audit Trail Elements 76

Audit Trail Files Representing Phenomena (Actual Events) 86

Audit Trail Files Representing Inquiry Procedures 95

5. Auditing an Inquiry 104

Preparing for an Audit 105

Assessing Auditability and Negotiating the Contract 116

Formalizing the Contract 122

Preparing and Implementing a Work Program to Determine Trustworthiness 125

Preparing the Audit Report 139

6. Developing Other Applications 142

Auditing Other Naturalistic Inquiries 142

Auditing in Other Inquiry Paradigms 144

Auditing for Different Objectives 149.

Notes:

Includes indexes.

Bibliography: pages 152-157.

ISBN:

0803929676 :

0803929684

OCLC:

16078641