Types of Evaluation

The complex problems of alcohol and other drug abuse and violence (AODV) on campus require multifaceted solutions. Evaluation helps program planners ensure that policies, programs, and other prevention efforts are being implemented as planned and working as intended to reduce AODV problems. Evaluation also helps administrators decide how to use limited resources best by providing data on what activities and programs work and what can be improved.

Conducting a comprehensive evaluation is imperative for implementing effective programs and policies, refining these programs over time, and assessing the effects of your efforts. Evaluation efforts must occur throughout program planning and implementation. An iterative evaluation plan:

• Monitors implementation of the work plan
• Evaluates programs and policies
• Uses findings to guide improvements, and then continues to evaluate

Different types of evaluation can help you accomplish these tasks.

Types of Evaluation

There are three different types of evaluation: process, outcome, and impact. Just as no one program or policy can solve a campus’s AODV issues, evaluation is not a one-size-fits-all process. Using various types of evaluation at different times helps ensure you’re measuring every facet of program planning and implementation.

1. Process evaluation: This type of evaluation answers the question, “What are we doing?” Process evaluation assesses whether the prevention effort is being implemented as designed. This type of evaluation allows you to monitor progress and make corrections in implementation along the way. Also, if an intervention fails, process data allows evaluators to see where in implementation the failure occurred.
2. Outcome evaluation: “Where are we going?” Outcome evaluation looks at whether each program and policy is accomplishing its short-term and intermediate objectives. The two types of outcomes to consider are changes in behavior, and changes in structure or functioning of the environment. A logic model will help you identify the outcomes you want to measure.
3. Impact evaluation: “What effect are our efforts having?” Impact evaluation measures if your efforts are achieving their ultimate goal of reducing student AOD abuse and its consequences and violent behavior.

For examples of what to measure during each type of evaluation, please see What Should You Measure? on the Center’s Data Collection and Management Web page.

For More Information

The Center’s publication Evaluating Environmental Management Approaches to Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention provides in-depth information on each kind of evaluation described above.