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Chapter 11 Planning the Intervention Effects Evaluation
© 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Effect Evaluation in the Planning and Evaluation Cycle
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Basis for Decisions about Evaluation Focus and Purpose
Effect theory Logic model Outcome objectives Who the evaluation is for e.g., funders, stakeholders, research © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Characteristics of the Right Question
Relevant data can be collected More than 1 answer is possible Produces info that decision makers want and feel they need © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Outcome Documentation, Assessment, and Evaluation
To what extent were the outcome objectives met? Assessment To what extent is any noticeable change or difference in participants related to having received the program interventions? Evaluation Were the changes or differences due to participants having received the program and nothing else? © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Three Levels of Intervention Effects Evaluations
Outcome documentation Outcome assessment Outcome evaluation Purpose Show that outcome and impact objectives were met Determine whether participants in the program experienced any change/benefit Determine whether the program caused a change or benefit for the recipients Relationship to program effect theory Confirms reaching targets set in the objectives that were based on the theory Supports the theory Verifies the theory Level of rigor Minimal Moderate Maximum Data collection Data type and collection timing based on objectives being measured Data type based on effect theory; timing based on feasibility Data type based on effect theory; baseline and post-intervention data are required © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Evaluation vs. Research
Characteristic Research Evaluation Goal or purpose Generating new knowledge for prediction Social accounting and program or policy decision making Questions addressed Scientist's own questions Derived from program goals and impact objectives Problem addressed Areas where knowledge is lacking Program impacts and outcomes Guiding theory Theory used as basis for hypothesis testing Theory underlying the program interventions, theory of evaluation Appropriate techniques Sampling, statistics, hypothesis testing, etc. Whichever research techniques fit with the problem Setting Anywhere that is appropriate to the research question Anywhere evaluators can access the program recipients and controls Dissemination Scientific journals Internal and externally viewed reports, scientific journals Allegiance Scientific community Funding source, policy preference, scientific community © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Rigor and Identifying a Program’s Net Effects
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Three Theories Comprising the Program Effect Theory
Causal theory Existing and causal factors, moderators and mediators, and health outcome Intervention theory How the interventions affect the causal, moderating, and mediating factors Impact theory How immediate outcomes become long-term impact At minimum, evaluation should measure causal factors and outcomes © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Nomenclature for Effect Evaluation Variables
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Dependent (y) Variables
Need to choose most important outcome objectives, not a “fishing expedition” Typically from the 6 health and well-being domains: Knowledge, lifestyle behaviors, cognitive processes, mental health, social health, resources © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Independent (x) Variables
Called “independent” because they are not influenced by the outcome Start by measuring causal factors May be measured before and/or after a program, in participants and/or controls © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Moderating and Mediating Variables
Mediating – intervene between x and y Moderating – change strength or direction of relationship between x and y Including them in the evaluation helps in understanding what influences intervention effectiveness © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Measurement Considerations
Unit of observation must match level of program e.g., individuals, schools, communities Levels of measurement for variables Nominal, ordinal, interval Measurement timing Sensitivity of measures © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Pros and Cons of Levels of Measurement
Type Examples Advantage Disadvantage Nominal, categorical ZIP code, race, yes/no Easy to understand Limited information from the data Ordinal, rank Social class, Likert scale, “top 10” list (worst to best) Considerable information, can collapse into nominal categories Sometimes statistically treated as a nominal variable, ranking can be a difficult task for respondents Interval, continuous Temperature, IQ, distances, dollars, inches, age Most information, can collapse into nominal or ordinal categories Can be difficult to construct valid and reliable interval variables © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Examples of Nominal, Ordinal, and Interval Variables
Outcome variable Nominal Ordinal Interval Childhood immunization Yes/no up-to-date None required, 1 immunization required, >1 required Rubella titer Breastfeeding Yes/no breastfed Category for how long breastfed: <2 weeks, 2-6 weeks, >6 weeks # of days breastfed Housing situation Homeless or not Housing autonomy (own, rent monthly, rent weekly, homeless) # of days living at current residence © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Example Timeline of Intervention and Evaluation Activities
Month Intervention activity Evaluation activity 1 Pilot intervention with small group Conduct focus group to refine intervention acceptability and elements of services utilization plan 2 Recruit into program, screen for eligibility Randomly assign to program or wait list, collect data for baseline and comparison Participants n=150 Wait listed controls n=150 3 Provide intervention to 1st group of participants Analyze baseline, pre-intervention data 4 Collect post-intervention data Participants (time 1) who completed program n=125 New nonparticipant controls from wait list n=130 5 Repeat intervention Analyze data 6 Previous program participants (time 1) n=95 Current program participants (time 2) n=120 Current nonparticipant controls n=110 © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Threats to Data Quality
Missing data Reliability Instrument issues, individual variability day-to-day, inter-rater agreement, data entry Validity © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Contextual Considerations in Evaluation Planning
Evaluation budget Roughly 10 – 20% of implementation budget Evaluation standards Evaluation ethics Stakeholders’ interests © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Summary of Evaluation Elements
Elements of effect evaluation Science considerations Program considerations What to evaluate Impact & outcome variables most likely to demonstrate the strength of the evidence for the effect theory Highest-priority impact and outcome objectives, variables that meet funding agency requirements Who to evaluate Sample representativeness & comparability to non-participants, ethics of assignment to program or not Accessibility of program participants, availability of easily accessed target audience members When to evaluate Effect onset and duration Convenience and accessibility of program participants Why evaluate Scientific contributions and knowledge generation Program promotion, program refinement, funding agency requirements How to evaluate Maximize rigor through choice of measures, design, and analysis Minimize intrusion of evaluation into program through seamlessness of evaluation with program implementation © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Effect Evaluation across the Pyramid
Direct services level Evaluation of individuals may be most straightforward Questionnaire construction and secondary data analysis are main considerations Enabling services level Similar to direct services level How to identify participants and choosing the right unit of observation are main issues © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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Effect Evaluation across the Pyramid, Continued
Population-based services level Major issues are aggregation of data and selecting the unit of observation Infrastructure level Evaluation itself is an infrastructure process If the program affects infrastructure, then may need to collect individual-level data May need to develop infrastructure measures © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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© 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
Coming Up… April 19 Chapter 12 (Chapter 13 covered in Research Methods) April 26 Chapter 14 (Chapter 15 covered in Research Methods) May 3 Final Group Presentation You will present the entire Proposal in 30 minutes. Be creative. Q&A by me as well. Course Evaluation Group Evaluation May 11 Final Exam © 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers
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