Distortion of data is caused by purposeful, goal-oriented activity of people who produce
data, as well as by attempts to cheat or manipulate social service delivery systems. Failure
to recognize a constructive motivational component is attributed to an over-reliance on
positivism in the social sciences. It is argued that increased regulation may actually
increase distortion and decrease the availability of valid information about social services.
Legitimization, self-knowledge, and understanding dynamic processes are suggested as
alternatives to using program evaluation for measuring effects of social intervention.
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