Even parity states in O 16 are studied using the shell model in the jj coupling scheme with a zero-range, spin-dependent residual interaction. This necessitates consideration of both one particle-one hole excitations through two oscillators shells and two particle-two hole excitations. The unperturbed energy spectrum is taken from data of the single particle levels in O 15 and O 17. Energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions have been obtained for spin and isospin values J π ( T) = 0 +(0, 1, 2), 1 +(0, 1), 2 +(0, 2), 3 +(0), 4 +(0, 1). Transition matrix elements for photo and electro-excitation are computed. An extensive comparison of these results with experimental data on energy levels below 20 MeV has been carried out. Reasonable agreement is obtained for those levels with well-established spin and isospin assignments. In addition, some support is provided for tentative assignments drawn from nuclear reaction data. Comparison above 20 MeV, where there is a high density of predicted even parity levels, is made difficult by the dearth of experimental data. In contrast to the rather satisfactory results for energy values, electron scattering from factors as well as the pair emission rate from the lowest 0 + level are generally much smaller than the observed values, although form factor shapes appear to agree with the limited available data.