In a 4 page paper, discuss your understanding of qualitative methods and quantitative methods. Then, discuss your understanding of formative and summative evaluations. Choose a combination of qualitative and quantitative measures for a formative (on-going) then a summative (final outcome) evaluation of each of your eight outcomes. For example, if you had an outcome that stated that 30-day use of alcohol among adolescents would be reduced by 50 percent, you could use an annual underage drinking survey to plot if a percentage of teens are consuming less alcohol in a 30-day period. This is considered a quantitative method. You could also gather a listening group of 1012 adolescents who would be open, honest, and knowledgeable, and ask their perception of alcohol consumption among teens. This is considered a qualitative method. You may choose to use the listening sessions as formative evaluation and pre-and post-survey for summative evaluation. You need to rely on scholarly sources to defend your choices for all items listed above.
Qualitative Methods are exploratory and descriptive, aiming to understand the underlying meanings, interpretations, and experiences of individuals. They involve collecting data through interviews, focus groups, observations, and case studies. Qualitative methods are particularly useful for exploring complex phenomena, understanding diverse perspectives, and generating hypotheses for further research.
Quantitative Methods are objective and structured, focusing on measuring and quantifying data. They involve collecting numerical data using surveys, experiments, and statistical analysis. Quantitative methods are effective for testing hypotheses, identifying trends, and making generalizations about a population.
Formative and Summative Evaluations
Formative Evaluation is an ongoing process that provides feedback to improve a program or intervention while it is still being implemented. It helps identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
Summative Evaluation measures the overall effectiveness of a program or intervention after it has been completed. It assesses whether the desired outcomes have been achieved and provides information for future planning.
Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Measures
Formative Evaluation:
Outcome 1: Increased knowledge of healthy eating among school-aged children
Outcome 2: Improved physical activity levels among adults
Outcome 3: Reduced prevalence of smoking among adolescents
Summative Evaluation:
Outcome 1: Increased knowledge of healthy eating among school-aged children
Outcome 2: Improved physical activity levels among adults
Outcome 3: Reduced prevalence of smoking among adolescents
Rationale for Combining Methods:
Combining qualitative and quantitative methods provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of program outcomes. Qualitative methods can help to identify underlying reasons for changes in behavior, while quantitative methods can provide objective data on the extent of those changes. This combined approach can strengthen the credibility and generalizability of findings.