| Session Title: Population-based Impact Evaluation for Public Health and Social Programs: A Conceptual Framework |
| Think Tank Session 494 to be held in San Simeon A on Thursday, Nov 3, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Program Theory and Theory-driven Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Huey Chen, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hbc2@cdc.gov |
| Discussant(s): |
| Thomas Chapel, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tchapel@cdc.gov |
| Huey Chen, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hbc2@cdc.gov |
| Abstract: Evaluation often focuses on assessing individual impacts, that is, effectiveness of an intervention on individuals who participate in the intervention. More recently, decision makers are asking whether an intervention has desirable effects on an at-risk population in a particular locality such as a community, county, state, or nation. A conceptual framework of population-based impact evaluation would be highly useful for evaluators to address the challenge. This think tank explores a conceptual framework for population-based impact evaluation that evaluators can use to design and conduct this type of evaluation. . Participants are presented with initial thoughts on a conceptual framework developed from the program theory perspective that covers the following issues: Concept and definition of population-based impact evaluation, scope and components of the evaluation, interventions that are likely to have population impacts, methodological challenges, data sources and evaluation designs. Participants are asked to probe, critique, and modify the presenter's assertions. |