Abstract
Why do some implementations in human service settings of goal attainment scaling (GAS), an innovative program evaluation technique, last over time, whereas others die out despite an initially successful period of operation? To provide some tentative answers to this question and to help shed more light generally on differences between sustained and nonsustained innovative programs in service delivery organizations, 10 intensive case studies were conducted. Four were goal attainment scaling programs that have proved durable over time in their host organizations versus six other programs in which goal attainment scaling did not survive despite some initial success. These case studies were analyzed both clinically and by means of expert judges' ratings to identify some of the critical variables that seem to be associated with durability of the goal attainment scaling programs.
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The study on which this paper is based is part of a larger research program the authors conducted for the National Institute of Mental Health (collaborative grant R12 MH27566). The authors would like to thank the following individuals for their help in conceptualizing and conducting the study reported here: Dr. Howard R. Davis and Ms. Susan E. Salasin, both of the NIMH Mental Health Services Development Branch; Drs. Clifford Houston, Larry King and Arnold Dahlke, who conducted most of the field visits described here; and all hose who participated in our research in the 10 organizations we visited. Dr. Thomas Kiresuk of the Program Evaluation Resource Center and Ms. Molly Lewin, our editorial consultant, also provided perceptive and helpful critiques of an early draft version of this paper.
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Glaser, E.M., Backer, T.E. Durability of innovations: How goal attainment scaling programs fare over time. Community Ment Health J 16, 130–143 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00778585
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00778585