Evaluation and measurement: some dilemmas for health education

Am J Public Health. 1977 Feb;67(2):155-61. doi: 10.2105/ajph.67.2.155.

Abstract

Seven dilemmas of evaluation and measurement posed by the nature of health education are presented, together with suggestions for their resolution. These include the dilemmas of : 1) rigor of experimental design vs significance or program adaptability; 2) internal validity or "true" effectiveness vs external validity or feasibility; 3) experimental vs placebo effectsl 4) effectiveness vs economy of scale; 5) risk vs payoff; 6) measurement of long-term vs short-term out-comon. Emphasis is placed on the need to develop a more cumulative data base through standardization of measures, replication of experiments in different settings, and better documentation, reporting, and diffusion of experiences in practice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Documentation
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Health Education*
  • Humans
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Research Design
  • Risk
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Teaching
  • Teaching Materials
  • Time Factors