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Program Evaluation Glossary

 

A B C D E F G H
I J K L M N O P
Q R S T U V W X, Y, Z


"R"

Random Assignment
The assignment of individuals in the pool of all potential participants to either the experimental (treatment) group or the control group in such a manner that their assignment to a group is determined entirely by chance.
Random Comparison Group Design
In this research design, the comparison group is randomly selected from the population of interest, even though the treatment group is not selected randomly.
Randomized Comparative Change Design
In the experimental design known as the randomized comparative change design a treatment and control group are randomly selected for study. Both groups are administered a pre-test. The treatment group is given the treatment, while the control group is not. Both groups are tested or measured after the treatment. The test results of the two groups are compared. The pretest allows a check on the randomization process, and allows for control of any differences found.
Randomized Comparative Post-test Design
In the experimental design known as the randomized comparative post-test design a treatment and control group are randomly selected for study. The treatment group is given the treatment, while the control group is not. Both groups are tested or measured after the treatment. The test results of the two groups are compared.
Random Sampling
A procedure for sampling from a population that gives each unit in the population a known probability of being selected into the sample.
Range
A measure of spread which gives the distance between the lowest and the highest values in a distribution; a statistic used primarily with interval-ratio variables.
Ratio Measure
A level of measurement which has all the attributes of nominal, ordinal, and interval measures, and is based on a "true zero" point. As a result, the difference between two values or cases may be expressed as a ratio.
Regression Analysis
A method for determining the association between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables.
Regression Coefficient
An asymmetric measure of association; a statistic computed as part of a regression analysis.
Regression Effects
The tendency of subjects, who are initially selected due to extreme scores, to have subsequent scores move inward toward the mean. Also known as statistical regression/regression to the mean/regression fallacy.
Regression Fallacy
See regression effects.
Reliability
The extent to which a measurement instrument yields consistent, stable, and uniform results over repeated observations or measurements under the same conditions each time.
Reliability Assessment
An effort required to demonstrate the repeatability of a measurement or how likely a question may be to get consistently similar results. It is different from verification (checking accuracy) or validity.
Replication
The duplication of an experiment or program.
Representative
Reflecting the characteristics or nature of the larger population to which one wants to generalize.
Representative Sample
A sample that has approximately the same distribution of characteristics as the population from which it was drawn.
Research Design
A plan of what data to gather, from whom, how and when to collect the data, and how to analyze the data obtained.
Resistant Statistic
A statistic that is not much influenced by changes in a few observations.
Resources
Assets available and anticipated for operations. They include people, equipment, facilities and other things used to plan, implement, and evaluate public programs whether or not paid for directly by public funds.
Response Rate
The percentage of persons in a sample who respond to a survey.
Response Style
The tendency of a respondent to answer in a specific way regardless of how a question is asked.
Response Variable
A variable on which information is collected and which there is an interest because of its direct policy relevance.

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