Assessing Program Outcomes: Rationale and Benefits of Posttest-then-Retrospective-Pretest Designs

The importance of program evaluation for decision making, accountability, and sustainability is examined in this article. Pros and cons of traditional pretest-posttest and posttest-then-retrospective-pretest methodologies are discussed. A case study of Utah’s 4-H mentoring program using a posttest-t...

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Main Authors: James P. Marshall, Brian J. Higginbotham, Victor W. Harris, Thomas R. Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Clemson University Press 2007-06-01
Series:Journal of Youth Development
Online Access:http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/366
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author James P. Marshall
Brian J. Higginbotham
Victor W. Harris
Thomas R. Lee
author_facet James P. Marshall
Brian J. Higginbotham
Victor W. Harris
Thomas R. Lee
author_sort James P. Marshall
collection DOAJ
description The importance of program evaluation for decision making, accountability, and sustainability is examined in this article. Pros and cons of traditional pretest-posttest and posttest-then-retrospective-pretest methodologies are discussed. A case study of Utah’s 4-H mentoring program using a posttest-then-retrospective-pretest design is presented. Furthermore, it is argued that the posttest-then-retrospective-pretest design is a valid, efficient, and cost-effective way to assess program outcomes and impacts.
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spelling doaj.art-461d404c71884143afd7797ed44283c42024-02-02T10:50:13ZengClemson University PressJournal of Youth Development2325-40172007-06-012111812310.5195/jyd.2007.366344Assessing Program Outcomes: Rationale and Benefits of Posttest-then-Retrospective-Pretest DesignsJames P. Marshall0Brian J. Higginbotham1Victor W. Harris2Thomas R. Lee3University of ArkansasUtah State UniversityUtah State UniversityUtah State UniversityThe importance of program evaluation for decision making, accountability, and sustainability is examined in this article. Pros and cons of traditional pretest-posttest and posttest-then-retrospective-pretest methodologies are discussed. A case study of Utah’s 4-H mentoring program using a posttest-then-retrospective-pretest design is presented. Furthermore, it is argued that the posttest-then-retrospective-pretest design is a valid, efficient, and cost-effective way to assess program outcomes and impacts.http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/366
spellingShingle James P. Marshall
Brian J. Higginbotham
Victor W. Harris
Thomas R. Lee
Assessing Program Outcomes: Rationale and Benefits of Posttest-then-Retrospective-Pretest Designs
Journal of Youth Development
title Assessing Program Outcomes: Rationale and Benefits of Posttest-then-Retrospective-Pretest Designs
title_full Assessing Program Outcomes: Rationale and Benefits of Posttest-then-Retrospective-Pretest Designs
title_fullStr Assessing Program Outcomes: Rationale and Benefits of Posttest-then-Retrospective-Pretest Designs
title_full_unstemmed Assessing Program Outcomes: Rationale and Benefits of Posttest-then-Retrospective-Pretest Designs
title_short Assessing Program Outcomes: Rationale and Benefits of Posttest-then-Retrospective-Pretest Designs
title_sort assessing program outcomes rationale and benefits of posttest then retrospective pretest designs
url http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/366
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