PROSPER

Program Development Phases

Use of Program Development Phases in Organizing Current Center Research Projects

Information on current research projects at the Prevention Research Center have been divided according to two schema: topic area and program development phase. The latter, organized into tables by program area and phase, are provided as one way for researchers and stakeholders to obtain information about the evaluation and program development work occurring in the Center.

The five program development phases are: Etiology, Phase 1—Formative Evaluation; Phase 2—Efficacy Evaluation; Phase 3—Effectiveness Evaluation; and Phase 4—Impact Dissemination/Evaluation. Definitions for each of these phases, and for the concepts of Internal Validity and for Internal/External Validity, may be found here.

In theory, all preventive interventions should start with a Formative Phase and, if successful, evolve to the point where dissemination is the concern. We recognize that not all projects will fit neatly and exclusively into one of the five phases in our schema.

Program Development Phases for Prevention Science Programs/Research

Etiology Phase**Examination of etiological work that may lead to the creation and implementation of an intervention
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Formative Evaluation Efficacy Evaluation Effectiveness Evaluation Impact/Dissemination Evaluation
Internal Validity of Prevention Science Policy, Program and/or Practice Internal/External Validity of a Prevention Science Policy, Program, and/or Practice

Program Evaluation

Program evaluations* at the Prevention Research Center assess the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of services provided, usually measured in behavioral, health, and/or economic terms. One of the most important decisions in conducting an evaluation is to determine why, how, and what types of evaluation to conduct. Comprehension and application of the science base and the creation of a good science-practice partnership substantially facilitate the definition of purposes.

Here are ten common purposes of evaluation:

  1. To determine the degree of achievement of program objectives
  2. To document program strengths and weaknesses in making planning decisions
  3. To establish quality assurance and control methods and to monitor performance
  4. To determine the generalizability of a program to other populations/settings
  5. To identify hypotheses about human behavior for future evaluations
  6. To contribute to the science base of prevention programs
  7. To improve staff skills required for planning, implementation, and evaluation
  8. To fulfill grant or contract requirements
  9. To promote positive public relations and community awareness
  10. To meet public and fiscal accountability requirements

*Adapted from Windsor et al. (2003), Evaluation of Health Promotion, Health Education, and Disease Prevention Programs (New York: McGraw-Hill), 3rd edition.