This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Henry, G. T. Articles by McMillan, J. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Henry, G. T. Articles by McMillan, J. H. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Establishing Benchmarks for Outcome Indicators

A Statistical Approach To Developing Performance Standards

Georgia State University

Matthew J. McTaggart

University of Akron

James H. McMillan

Virginia Commonwealth University

Indicators of program performance are used as evaluative measures in a variety of fields. A particularly vexing problem for evaluation is the development of empirically based performance expectations. Should program sponsors be satisfied with average performance? How should evaluators account for client differences? This article presents a statistical technique for developing performance standards based on benchmark groups. The benchmark groups are selected using a multivariate technique that relies on a squared Euclidean distance method. For each observation unit, in this case a school district, a unique comparison group is selected. The performance of the district is compared to the performance of its benchmark group. Then the credibility, predictability, and equity of the method are tested. The approach meets or exceeds these test criteria and appears to be a viable, albeit controversial, approach for developing comparative performance standards.

Evaluation Review, Vol. 16, No. 2, 131-150 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/0193841X9201600202


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. A. Harkreader and G. T. Henry Using Performance Measurement Systems for Assessing the Merit and Worth of Reforms American Journal of Evaluation, June 1, 2000; 21(2): 151 - 170. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. T. Henry and J. H. McMillan Performance Data: Three Comparison Methods Eval Rev, December 1, 1993; 17(6): 643 - 652. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. T. Henry Using Graphical Displays for Evaluation Data Eval Rev, February 1, 1993; 17(1): 60 - 78. [Abstract] [PDF]