Assessing the Economic Effectiveness of Social Technologies: Potential of a Cognitive Interview

The article discusses the 7-aspect model of M. Schreiner and his colleagues for assessing the economic efficiency of social programs using the example of the technology “Organizing the work of an interdisciplinary team of specialists in a case of violation of the rights and legitimate interests of a child.” The method is a cognitive interview with an expert implementing this social technology, with the help of which the author checks how correctly the aspects of Schreiner’s evaluative model were explicated, how adequately the concepts reflected in the model and the meanings associated with them are perceived in the Russian context, as well as how comprehensive are the proposed elements of the model. In addition, special attention is paid to the possibility of using this assessment model within the framework of Russian social work practice. Taking into account the context and the technology being assessed, the interview, in addition to questions aimed at aspects of the evaluative model, integrates a block of questions related to the influence of management on the effectiveness of social intervention. As a result of the analysis, clarifications are proposed both on the cognitive rethinking of the tools and on the basic Schreiner model itself. The need to modernize M. Schreiner's model and include new variables in it that can influence the final economic efficiency of social technology is substantiated.

cognitive interview, evaluation of the effectiveness of social technology, economic efficiency, the Schreiner’s model