Grandma Moses and the "Corruption" of Data

Nancy Cochran
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Nancy Cochran: Northwestern University

Evaluation Review, 1978, vol. 2, issue 3, 363-373

Abstract: Distortion of data is caused by purposeful, goal-oriented activity of people who produce data, as well as by attempts to cheat or manipulate social service delivery systems. Failure to recognize a constructive motivational component is attributed to an over-reliance on positivism in the social sciences. It is argued that increased regulation may actually increase distortion and decrease the availability of valid information about social services. Legitimization, self-knowledge, and understanding dynamic processes are suggested as alternatives to using program evaluation for measuring effects of social intervention.

Date: 1978
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:evarev:v:2:y:1978:i:3:p:363-373

DOI: 10.1177/0193841X7800200301

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