Cost analysis for educational planning and evaluation : methodology and application to instructional technology

THE REPORT IS AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES IN EDUCATION. PART ONE OF THE REPORT REVIEWS THE COST ANALYSIS PROCESS, DISCUSSES THE COLLECTION AND ORGANIZATION OF COST DATA, AND REVIEWS SPECIAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE DIFFERENCE IN ANALYSIS FOR THE PROJECT PLANNER AND FOR THE PROJECT MANAGER, AND ERRORS IN COST ESTIMATION. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS (RADIO AND TELEVISION) AND A LOOK AT SEVERAL PROJECTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IS THE FOCUS OF THE SECOND SECTION. IT ALSO INCLUDES EXAMPLES OF COST FUNCTIONS USING SUCH VARIABLES AS PROJECT COSTS, UTILIZATION, AND TIME. DETAILED CASE STUDIES IN THE FINAL SECTION OF THE DOCUMENT INCLUDE TWO RADIO PROJECTS AND FIVE INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION PROJECTS. THE SYSTEM AND OPERATION OF EACH PROJECT IS DESCRIBED, PROJECT COSTS ARE ANALYZED, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH SYSTEM IS REVIEWED. WHERE POSSIBLE, THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROJECT IS COMPARED WITH THAT OF THE TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.