ABSTRACT
A new era in the field of social welfare administration was launched with the assertion that “Service effectiveness … should be the principal criterion of a model of social welfare administration practice” (Patti, 1985). However, the work ahead for many years will consist of developing and testing the knowledge that we shall need in order to transform this mission into a practice reality. A significant part of that knowledge base will consist of applied measurement theory, and the purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the ways in which formal measurement tools can be used to further the aims of an effectiveness oriented administrative practice. Also discussed are some of the pitfalls that must be avoided if applied measurement theory is to advance the achievement of an effectiveness oriented administrative practice.
