Question

please think about the difference between conducting research and implementing program evaluation. More specifically, please try to provide definitions for both "research" and "program evaluation" as well as their purposes. Also, please provide some insights on the type of differences which exists between research and program evaluation. Please source

Answer 1

Research is a systematic rigorous, & critical investigation that aims to answer questions and it's purposes are based on types of research :-

Basic/Pure Research

The purpose of this research is to understand, explain, and provide new knowledge.It can take the form of a theory that explains the phenomenon under investigation to give its contribution to knowledge. This research is more descriptive in nature exploring 'what', 'why' and 'how' questions

Applied Research

The purpose of this research is to provide an immediate solution to practical human and societal problems.

This type of research often applies the findings of Basic research and is often prescriptive, focusing on the "how" questions

Evaluation Research

Can be both formative and summative

Formative research

It aims to improve human intervention with specific conditions

Summative research

It aims to assess the effectiveness of a program, policy, or product

Action Research

Aims at solving specific problems within a program, organization, or community

- Provides knowledge that is reliable & useful for practice

- Research studies published in journal are evaluated for clinical practice

- Findings provide evidence that is evaluated

- Applicability is used to inform clinical practice

#. Program evaluation is the systematic collection, analysis, & interpretation of information about health promotion programs for the purpose of answering questions and making decisions about a program. Two critical purposes are assessing and improving quality and determining effectiveness .

The 5 types of evaluation are :-

-Formative

-Process

-Impact

-Outcome

-Summative

# The purpose Formative Evaluation

The purpose is to improve overall quality of a program or any of its components before it is too late. Starts when program is conceived, usually continues through implementation but stops when program is complete. (pre-testing program components, pilot testing)

#. The purpose of Process Evaluation

The purpose is to assess the implementation in general and track/measure what went well and what went poorly and how these factors contributed to the success or failure of the program. Also measures the degree to which the program was implemented as intended, done once implementation begins until the end.

#. The purpose of Impact Evaluation

The purpose is to focus on the intermediary measures such as behavior change or behavior changes in attitudes, knowledge, and awareness. Ex. Increase in physical activity, it is done during the implementation. "most notably associated with behavioral impact or change"

#. The purpose of Outcome Evaluation

The purpose is to measure the degree to which end points such as disease or injuries actually decreased. Done at end of program, long in nature and takes more resources than assessing impact outcome. "Determines effect of program on beneficiaries"

#. The purpose Summative Evaluation.

The purpose is to assess the effectiveness of the intervention and the extent to which awareness, knowledge, attitudes, behavior, the environment or health status changed as a result of the program. Done in conclusion to the program to provide statement regarding program effects.