 Planning
a Meaningful Evaluation
2.4
Consider the best timing to find expected results
Follow up evaluation sometimes shows an
increase in effects for a time after the program ends.
More typically, effects wash out or diminish over time
after a program ends unless there is some reinforcement
of what participants gained during the program.
Proximal effects Immediate, direct effects
generally of primary interest to community programmers.
e.g.,
- for a basketball
program, an increase in skills related to playing
basketball, but also possible improvements
in teamwork, discipline or feelings of competence
Distal
effects
More indirect effects or ones that develop
in the longer term e.g.,
- for the basketball program, distal effects
could be health benefits if the person was motivated
by the program to continue playing basketball regularly
Time
the evaluation measurement at the most reasonable
time period to expect benefits from your program.
e.g.,
- effects of training
in pro-social skills or anger-management may
build from the end of the program as the family
learns, practises and adjusts to new ways of
interacting
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