Psychology in Program Evaluation

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the issue of how psychology is involved in program evaluation. Several contributions of psychology to this methodological discipline are discussed. Using examples taken from the evaluation of European human-resources programs, the authors emphasize the role of behavioral and subjective variables. Also, the paper contends that the fundamental types of use debated in the evaluation literature can be enriched and clarified if notions from psychological theory are used. Finally, it is pointed out that although psychology is one of the social sciences traditionally involved in program evaluation, in the European context, psychologists seem to be almost absent from the evaluation of European programs. It is therefore suggested that European psychology and psychologists must make their presence more strongly felt in program evaluation.