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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Accord, L. T. (1981). The reported long-term effect on nursing practice of selected cancer nursing continuing education workshops.DAI. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
Bishop, L. A. H. (1980). The continuing education preferences of certain registered nurses based upon their other-directedness/self-directedness.DAI. Ed.D. dissertation. University of Virginia.
Bryant, B. & Shinn, E. (1979).Follow-up conference assessments impact study (Office of Education, DHEW). Washington, D.C.: Teachers Corps, 1–43.
Buckland, J. K. (1969). An institute as an educational experience in the continuing education of a selected population of nurses.DAI. Ph.D. dissertation, British Columbia University, 1–55.
Clark, M. D. (1981). A model to evaluate the impact of continuing education for nurses.DAI. Ph.D. dissertation, Northwestern University.
Courtenay, B. C. & Holt, M, E. (1987). Evaluating program impact.Materials and Methods in Adult and Continuing Education, 169–174.
Del Bueno, D. J. (1976). An empirical evaluation of the relationship between continuing education and nursing behavior.DAI. Ed.D. dissertation, Columbia University.
Deshler, D. ed. (1984).Evaluation for program improvement. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Fielding, D. W. (1978). Performance evaluation of a program in pharmacy continuing education.DAI. Ed.D. dissertation. The University of British Columbia.
Gillian, J. L. C. (1981). Andragogy: A conceptual model for social work continuing education.DAI. Social Work dissertation. University of Utah.
Gosnell, D. J. (1979). The impact of continuing education on practice: Evaluation of a rehabilitation nursing course.DAI. Ph.D. dissertation. The Ohio State University.
Grabowski, S. M., ed. (1983).Strengthening Connections Between Education and Performance. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Harris, L. C. (1986). Nurses' application of continuing education knowledge and skills.DAI. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Kentucky.
Hentschel, D. (1979). In-service education-does it make a difference?Assessing the Impact of Continuing Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Holt, M. E. & Courtenay, B. C. (1985). An examination of impact evaluations.Continuum.49 (1), 23–35.
-(1987). Continuing education in the humanities: Participant learning is questionable.Continuing Education in Higher Education, (formerlyContinuum).
Keltner, N. L. (1981). The impact of nursing continuing education on nursing practice as perceived by registered nurses in acute care facilities in the central valley of California.DAI. Ed.D. dissertation. University of San Francisco.
Knox, A. B., ed. (1979).Assessing the impact of continuing education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Kuhn, T. (1970).The structure of scientific revolution. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Lawless, C. A. (1980). Nursing continuing education: An evaluation of program quality and measurements of learning.DAI. Ed.D. dissertation. Boston College.
Longo, R. G. (1981). A study of the interrelationships among a university's on-campus continuing education workshop program for teachers, research-based effectiveness teaching behaviors, and the perceived needs of the client-teachers.DAI. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
Mays, M. J. (1981). Continuing education in the neurodevelopmental approach to ambulation: An evaluation of its effects on physical therapists' practices.DAI. Ph.D. dissertation, The University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Mutzebaugh, C. A. (1981). Perceptions of competency resulting from continuing education for registered nurses.DAI. Ed.D. dissertation. University of Colorado at Boulder.
Oliver, S. K. (1979). Evaluation of short term continuing education workshops on the clinical behavior of community health nurses.DAI. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Iowa.
Osness, D. L. & White, B. J. (1987). Inservice Education: The quality control for instruction.Health Education.18 (5), 48–49.
Patton, M. Q. (1982).Practical evaluation. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
—. (1986).Utilization-focused evaluation (ed. II) Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Rubinson, L. & Neutens, J. J. (1987).Research techniques for the health sciences. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.
Sjogren, D. D. (1979). Issues in assessing educational impact.Assessing the Impact of Continuing Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Smola, J. K. (1981). Evaluation of the training and continuing education for employment as an emergency medical technician-ambulance.DAI., Ph.D. dissertation. Iowa State University.
Sparks, G. M. (1983). Synthesis of research on staff development for effective teaching.Educational Leadership.41 (3), 65–72.
Tallman, D. E. & Holt, M. E. (1987). Moving learning from workshops to work.Continuing Higher Education Review. 15–31.
Turkletaub, M. R. K. (1980). A study to determine the impact of a continuing education course for registered nurses on knowledge and skills utilized in providing patient care.DAI. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Maryland.
Van Derveer, C. P. (1982). A study of the relationship between the presentation of a specific continuing education offering and nurse performance in the documentation of patient care in the work setting.DAI. Ed.D. dissertation, Columbia University Teachers College.
Warmuth, J. F. (1986). Use of continuing education: An exploration from the learner's perspective.DAI. Ph.D. doctoral dissertation. The University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wollenberg, J. E. (1986). Evaluation utilization processes and Influences.DAI. Ph.D. doctoral dissertation. The University of Tennessee.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wilks, B., Sikes, S. Guidelines to practical impact evaluation. Innov High Educ 13, 54–65 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00898132
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00898132