T

Target
An objective (constraint or expected result) set by management to communicate program purpose to operating personnel (for example, maintaining a monthly output level).

Target Population
The population, clients, or subjects intended to be identified and served by the program. FOR EXAMPLE, a boot camp program may identify, as its target population, 18-20 year old first-time violent offenders.

Telescoping
The tendency of respondents (particularly in victim surveys) to move forward and report as having occurred events which actually took place before the reference period or time period being studied. FOR EXAMPLE, a respondent asked if she had been the victim of a robbery in the last year, recalls and reports an incident that actually occurred 18 months prior.

Testing Bias
Bias and foreknowledge introduced to participants as a result of a pretest. The experience of the first test may impact subsequent reactions to the treatment or to retesting.

Test-retest
Administration of the same test instrument twice to the same population for the purpose of assuring consistency of measurement.

Theory Failure
A program shortcoming in which the intermediate program effects succeed as planned but the outcome criteria remain unchanged.

Time-series Designs
Research designs that collect data over long time intervals - before, during, and after program implementation. This allows for the analysis of change in key factors over time.

Transformed Variable
A variable for which the attribute values have been systematically changed for the sake of data analysis.

Treatment Group
The subjects of the intervention being studied.

Treatment Variable
An independent variable in program evaluation that is of particular interest because it corresponds to a program's intent to change some dependent variable. FOR EXAMPLE, number of sessions with the case counselor or participation in training programs.

Trend
The change in a series of data over a period of years that remains after the data have been adjusted to remove seasonal and cyclical fluctuations.

Triangulation
The combination of methodologies in the study of the same phenomenon or construct; a method of establishing the accuracy of information by comparing three or more types of independent points of view on data sources (for example, interviews, observation, and documentation; different times) bearing on the same findings. Akin to corroboration and an essential methodological feature of case studies.