Evaluating Social Services: Did the General Accounting Office Help?

In a recent study—Social Services: Do They Help Welfare Recipients Achieve Self-Support or Reduced Dependency?—the General Accounting Office presents research results which indicate that social services provided to AFDC recipients have not affected the likelihood that recipients will leave welfare or increase work while on welfare. In this paper we summarize the study and then criticize the methodology of the GAO research and the conclusions drawn from it. The requirements of useful policy-related research in this area are outlined. It is suggested that, while the GAO study is seriously flawed, the problem investigated is of critical importance and deserves further attention.