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Addressing Program Fidelity Using Onsite Observations and Program Provider Descriptions of Program Delivery

NCJ Number
241062
Journal
Evaluation Review Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2006 Pages: 714-740
Author(s)
Chris Melde; Finn-Aage Esbensen; Karin Tusinski
Date Published
December 2006
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This paper uses findings from an ongoing evaluation of a school-based victimization prevention program to highlight some of the difficulties in maintaining a high degree of fidelity when providing prevention programming in a school-based setting.
Abstract
Over the past quarter-century, evaluation researchers have recognized the importance of documenting implementation practices of programs as they are transferred from controlled to real world settings. As programs become widely disseminated in the general population, there is a tendency for practitioners to alter programs in a manner more conducive to their immediate needs, which may adversely affect program outcomes. The current paper uses findings from an ongoing evaluation of a school-based victimization prevention program to highlight some of the difficulties in maintaining a high degree of fidelity when providing prevention programming in a school-based setting. The results, based on observations of program delivery and program provider descriptions of implementation, allow for the examination of fidelity based on different data collection techniques. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.