Conclusions
The complexity of most social problems and a growing human services shortfall dictate that we reevaluate our approach to planned social change. Simplistic one-shot evaluations of social interventions are unlikely to yield the kind of information that will help us identify true social innovations, understand and refine their instrumental processes, and thereby optimize their effects. However, incremental progress in these areas is possible through the pursuit of ESI or other systematic and rigorous approaches to outcome research.
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The contributions of the authors to this manuscript were equal. The order of authorship was determined by a coin flip.
The research reported as Study 1 in this article was partially supported by an Administration on Aging Dissertation Research Grant (90-4T-2120/01). Study 2 was supported by a Research Assistantship Award from the School of Education, North Carolina State University. The disseration upon which this study is based received a Division 27 Dissertation Award (runner-up).
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Gray, D.O., Braddy, B.A. Experimental social innovation and client-centered job-seeking programs. Am J Commun Psychol 16, 325–343 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00919374
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00919374