This title offers a detailed exploration of action research, emphasizing the importance of evaluation in the context of social action programs. Guided by Kurt Lewin’s philosophy that research should yield practical results rather than merely produce academic texts, this book examines the research conducted from 1955 to 1959 on the Encampment for Citizenship, a program aimed at fostering civic engagement and character education among youth.

The authors present the book as a resource for those engaged in character education and other youth-focused initiatives, showing how structured evaluations can inform and improve program outcomes. They discuss the complexities of evaluating social action programs, including the development of methodologies, the testing of evaluation instruments over time, and the comparative analysis of different research designs. By focusing on both the successes and challenges encountered, the book aims to contribute to the field by providing a replicable framework for evaluating similar programs, highlighting the practical alignment of research with social impact goals.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1962.