Evaluation Considerations

Evaluation strategies should be identified during the program planning phase. Developing an evaluation plan can help to clarify and guide the implementation of an evaluation approach. Important considerations include research questions, evaluation measures, evaluation design, and data collection strategies. Other considerations in developing health promotion and disease prevention evaluations include:

• Engaging stakeholders: Stakeholders can support data collection efforts by ensuring credible information is collected that logically corresponds with program expectations, reflects the practices and realities of the people served by the program, and can be organized to showcase the lessons learned.
• Defining evaluation goals and objectives: The goal of the evaluation may be to provide insight into program processes, effectiveness, outcomes, and/or impact. By defining evaluation goals and objectives, organizations can identify how program elements interact, the practices that maximize program effectiveness, the value of those effects, and how the program promotes health and prevents disease among participants.
• Connecting program goals and objectives to outcomes: Organizations should define the goals and objectives of their health promotion/disease prevention program and connect them to measureable indicators and outcomes. Objectives should address program activities, the target population, the extent of the change, and the timeline (short-term and long-term).
• Available resources: Organizations should implement an evaluation strategy reflects the program’s budget, timeline, and other available resources.

Resources to Learn More

Developing an Effective Evaluation Plan
Document
Offers guidance to program managers, administrators, and evaluators on a range of evaluation topics, focusing on the process of developing an evaluation plan.
Organization(s): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Date: 2011

Population, Health, and Environment M&E Training Tool Kit
Website
Provides training and tools to support evaluation of community-based population, health, and environment programs.
Organization(s): United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

The Step-By-Step Guide to Evaluation: How to Become Savvy Evaluation Consumers
Document
Provides a framework, detailed information, and tips for employing evaluation to inform and track progress of strategies.
Organization(s): W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Date: 2017