extent to which any program findings are in accord with the commissioning agency fulfilling the goal of upholding social responsibility concerns. In this regard, Jones and Baldwin (1994) have discussed program evaluation research conducted by businesses and industry. According to the authors, many corporations conduct evaluation research to determine whether new policies, practices, programs, or products are effective in terms of the company's specific business objectives. However, Jones and Baldwin (1994) report, that business objectives are not always in line with the organization being socially responsible.
For example, a given evaluation might show that a particular corporate program is effective and cost-effective but that its implementation is not protective of the environment. Therefore to go ahead and implement the program would not be socially responsible.
The key factor in dealing with this ethical issue, Jones and Baldwin (1994) state, is to provide organizations that conduct program evaluation research with reasons for adopting socially responsible values and objectives as part of corporate policy for program evaluation research. Several recommendations are offered by the authors. These include: increasing costs related to environmental protection and compliance, consumer demand and market competition, environmental interest group pressure, government regulation, action and rulings by courts in support of environmental laws and challenges, ethics or morality, public opinion, and media attention.
Another ethical issue involving some forms of program evaluation research has been discussed by Korteland and Cornwell (1991). The authors note that in the behavioral, social and medical sciences, the requirement of a control group can be ethically challenging.
For example, strict methodological considerations require that control groups do not receive those specific treatment services or programs being tes...