Evaluating the Impact of Communication Programs

Author(s):

Year: 2002

Abstract:

This document summarizes an expert meeting organized by MEASURE Evaluation and the Population Communication Services Project held October 4-5, 2001, in Elkridge, MD. At the meeting, experts discussed methodological issues regarding the evaluation of large-scale communication programs. The overall objective of the meeting was to agree on the preferred methodologies for evaluating the impact of communication programs conducted as part of wide-scale health interventions. The specific objectives of the meeting were to: 1) identify the major methodological challenges to evaluating the impat of full-coverage communication programs for behavior change; 2) To review study designs that leading researchers have used to address the threats to validity in the context of evaluating communication programs; 3) To identify means to further improve on existing methodological approaches and appropriate indicators for impact assessment; and 4) To strengthen the network of researchers and evaluatiors involved in evaluating communication programs.