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Guidelines to practical impact evaluation

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Abstract

This article is about impact evaluation. A case study of a workshop in health education/promotion is described in which an impact evaluation was included in the initial planning stage of the workshop and carried out six months after the work-shop. Workshop directors and sponsors of continuing education programs are keenly interested in how workshop experiences and materials are used to enhance participants' performance back on the job. Workshop directors are frequently too busy to carry out impact evaluations. Guidelines for conducting valid evaluations are needed.

The present study was conducted to determine the extent to which the participants followed through on their own plans which were written out on the last day of the workshop. Results indicated that the materials, information and strategies included in the workshop were used and most participants implemented their plans to a moderate or great extent. The survey also yielded information and participant preferences useful in planning future workshops.

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Wilks, B., Sikes, S. Guidelines to practical impact evaluation. Innov High Educ 13, 54–65 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00898132

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