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Public Health Workforce Training
Link to beginning section of Advanced Program Evaluation

Data Collection Methods

ShapeTracker Intervention Stakeholders

  • Commissioner Middleton County (MC)
  • Middleton County (MC) Health Department (HD) ShapeTracker (ST) team
  • MC HD Information Technology staff
  • MC HD marketing/communications staff
  • Other MC HD staff
  • CDC
  • Group that developed ST for CDC
  • MC community members
  • Wellness advocates in MC
  • Obesity prevention programs in MC
  • Healthy eating related resources in MC
  • Exercise resources in MC
  • Smartphone providers in MC
  • California communities that implemented ST
  • Smartphone companies
  • MC government

Logic Model

Inputs Activities Outputs Short-term Outcomes Intermediate Outcomes Long-term Outcomes
ShapeTracker App Mobilize local resources and customize ST for MC # of times ST app downloaded in MC Decrease perceived barriers to healthy eating and physical activity Increase healthy eating in MC Reduce obesity in MC
Funding from HD and CDC Market ST in MC # of MC residents actively using ST Increase self-monitoring of healthy eating and physical activity Increase physical activity in MC Reduce obesity related health problems in MC
Team of experienced staff Keep app updated and maintain content Amount of use for different ST functions Increase self-efficacy for healthy eating and physical activity    
High smart phone use in MC community Provide technical assistance to users User satisfaction with ST Increase social supprt for healthy eating and physical activity    
Marketing & communication resources in HD   # of friends referred to ST      
IT resources in HD   # of MC residents actively using ST long-term      
Local obesity prevention resources in MC          

ShapeTracker Intervention Evaluation Questions

Process Questions
  1. Was a broad range of local resources successfully engaged in the project?
  2. Was ST successfully disseminated to a broad segment of MC community?
  3. What proportion of MC residents have:
    • downloaded the app?
    • became active users of the app?
    • became active long-term users of the app?
  4. For those who stopped using ST, why did they discontinue?
  5. How much are ST users using different functions in ST?
  6. How satisfied are MC residents with the ST app and its specific features?
Outcome Questions
  1. Does use of ST increase:
    • self-monitoring of healthy eating and physical activity?
    • self-efficacy for healthy eating and physical activity?
    • social support for healthy eating and physical activity?
  2. Does ST decrease perceived barriers to healthy eating and physical activity?
  3. Does use of ST increase healthy eating and physical activity among county residents?
  4. Does use of ST lead to lower BMI among those who are obese or overweight?
  5. Does use of ST help those with normal BMI prevent overweight?

The evaluation questions we have chosen to address in our evaluation plan.

Our data collection method will be a self-administered survey. It should be noted that there are many other options for data collection methods, such as:

  • Interviews (Structured/semi-structured/unstructured)
  • Physical measures (e.g., BMI)
  • Observations
  • Focus groups
  • Document/record review (e.g., medical records)

Any social science research method can be adapted for program evaluation. Evaluators should keep in mind that a wide range of options is available.

Question 1:

What additional methods would you choose to collect data to answer some of the other ShapeTracker evaluation questions?

List of Data Collection Methods:

  1. Surveys (A brief survey of demographics when users sign up)
  2. Surveys (of ShapeTracker users)
  3. Key informant interviews (perhaps combined with review of program records)
  4. Data from ShapeTracker system logs
  5. Focus groups (of ShapeTracker users)
  6. Surveys (with incentives offered)

Evaluation Question 1

Was a broad range of local resources successfully engaged in the project?

Your answer:

Our answer: 3. Key informant interviews

Evaluation Question 2

For those who stopped using ST, why did they discontinue?

Your answer:

Our answer: 6. Surveys (with incentives offered)

Evaluation Question 3

How satisfied are MC residents with the ST app and its specific features?

Your answer:

Our answer: 2. Surveys (of ShapeTracker users)

Evaluation Question 4

What proportion of MC residents have:
a) downloaded the app
b) became active users of the app, and
c) became active long-term users of the app?

Your answer:

Our answer: 4. Data from ShapeTracker system logs

Evaluation Question 5

Was ST successfully disseminated to a broad segment of MC community?

1. Surveys (A brief survey of demographics when users sign up)

Evaluation Question 6

Does ST decrease perceived barriers to healthy eating and physical activity?

Your answer:

Our answer: 5. Focus groups (of ShapeTracker users)

It is OK if you chose different data collection methods to the ones we used, often different methods can be used to collect data to answer the same evaluation question.