Standardizing Training Evaluation Instruments

Standardizing Training Evaluation Instruments

In 2005, the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice reviewed its evaluation instruments in order to develop a set of standardized questions and response options that could be used for all training evaluations. Previously, NWCPHP's faculty, staff, and partnering agencies routinely designed evaluations to meet the needs of specific training programs or modalities without a common framework. These uncoordinated evaluations resulted in numerous variations of survey questions and response options, as well as inconsistent data collection and analysis processes. NWCPHP undertook the training evaluation standardization project to streamline its evaluation efforts and develop a system that could aggregate data across similar types of training and compare findings from year to year. The project began with an examination of all questionnaires used at NWCPHP for all modalities (in-person, Web-based, CD-ROM) and the development of a catalogue of all questions and answer choices. 

An evaluation standardization committee analyzed the catalogued survey questions by type based on the training modality of the five stages of evaluation included in NWCPHP's Model. The committee then produced eight standardized training evaluation templates.

These template may be modified based on an individual training design; however, they provide the basic templates for all evaluations conducted by NWCPHP.

For more information about NWCPHP's evaluation activities, contact Luann D'Ambrosio, Assistant Director.