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

Authors

  • James P. Marshall University of Arkansas
  • Brian J. Higginbotham Utah State University
  • Victor W. Harris Utah State University
  • Thomas R. Lee Utah State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2007.366

Abstract

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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Published

2007-06-01

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2007)

Section

Research & Evaluation Studies

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