Book Review: Realistic Evaluation

Books applicable to the broad field of program evaluation are reviewed. Books may be reviewed singly or in groups to illuminate similarities and differences in intent, philosophy, and usefulness. Persons with suggestions of books to be reviewed, or those who wish to submit a review, should contact Perry Sailor (Planning, Budget, and Analysis, University of Colorado at Boulder, Campus Box 15, Boulder CO 80309; 303-492-2514 or e-mail: perry.sailor@colorado.edu). In general, a review of an individual book should not exceed four double-spaced typewritten pages; groups of books may require additional length. In the past, AJE policy has been to commission a single review for each book. That will continue to be the practice for most books, but two reviews will be commissioned for books judged by the Editor and/or Book Review Editor to be major works in evaluation. Such major evaluation books would include evaluation texts, edited books of evaluation readings, or other books dedicated solely to extending evaluation theory or practice. Conversely, books that focus on methods or techniques shared by evaluation and other disciplines or professions (e.g., statistics; measurement; observation methods) will receive a single review.