Evaluating technology-based public institutions: the case of radiopharmaceutical standards research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate, through one case study, the current state of program evaluation in the research laboratories at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The history of NIST's radiopharmaceutical standards research program is discussed, the methodology for data collection and analysis is detailed, and the NIST management's use of the findings from the case study is described, in an effort to move toward generalizations about best practices in program evaluation applicable to technology-based public institutions. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.