Assessing practitioner's knowledge of evaluation: initial psychometrics of the Practice Evaluation Knowledge Scale

Area of Science:

• Social Work
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Program Evaluation

Background:

• Effective implementation of evidence-based practice relies on robust practice evaluation.
• Assessing practitioner knowledge and competency in evaluation has been a significant challenge.
• Developing reliable tools is essential for advancing professional standards in social work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a concise scale for measuring practitioner knowledge of practice evaluation.
• To provide a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing competency in evaluation skills.
• To facilitate the measurement of a key component of evidence-based practice.

Main Methods:

• Development of an 8-item scale, the Practice Evaluation Knowledge Scale (PEKS).
• Initial psychometric assessment, including internal consistency and validity testing.
• Focus on social work practitioners' knowledge of practice evaluation.

Main Results:

• The Practice Evaluation Knowledge Scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .925).
• The scale exhibited favorable validity, indicating it accurately measures the intended construct.
• Results support the scale's utility in assessing social work practitioner knowledge.

Conclusions:

• The Practice Evaluation Knowledge Scale is a promising tool for measuring social work practitioner competency in evaluation.
• This scale can aid in identifying training needs and improving the quality of evidence-based practice.
• Further research can explore its application across diverse practice settings and populations.