.BEST COPY AVAILABLE THE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIMENT: A SPECIAL CASE OF FIELD TESTING OR EVALUATION +

This paper describes administrative experimentation--a particular strategy and method of field testing or evaluation. Administrative experimentation can best be described as a specialized form of field testing, field experimentation or evaluation which emphasizes the dual role of administrator and experimenter. This method is first defined in terms of its relation to other methods, and its potential strengths and limitations. Second, the method itself is described in some detail. Finally, case studies of its use are presented to provide a basis for evaluating the usefulness of the method. (Author/MLP) CY