HSC3061 - Health program evaluation

Leader(s): Dr Ben Smith

Offered

Peninsula First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will equip students with skills to undertake the evaluation of health promotion programs and policies using a range of methodologies. Levels of health program evaluation, including formative, process, impact, and outcome evaluation, will be examined. The range of qualitative and quantitative methods that are appropriate for different evaluation questions will be presented. An emphasis will be placed on the evaluation challenges posed by the complexities of health promotion and the contexts in which it is carried out, with case studies used to illustrate these issues. Evaluation design and data collection options to strengthen knowledge of program impact will be explored.

Objectives

By the completion of this unit, it is expected that the student will be able to:

1. distinguish between levels of evaluation in health promotion and recognise how these are linked to program plans;
2. select quantitative designs that are appropriate for different evaluation questions;
3. identify the range of qualitative study designs that can be employed and the strengths and weaknesses of these for different strategies and contexts;
4. identify methods to measure indicators at all levels of evaluation;
5. develop survey questions and interview guides that demonstrate an understanding of measurement quality;
6. recognise different aspects of measurement reliability and validity and how these can be evaluated;
7. develop a comprehensive evaluation plan

Assessment

+ Critical appraisal of case study (30%) 1500 words;
+ Presentation of case study (20%);
+ Development of an evaluation plan (50%) 1500 words

Contact hours

12 hours per week including contact time and private study, averaged over the 13 week semester - a total of 156 hours

Prerequisites

HSC1031; HSC1061; HSC1072; HSC 2051