Validation of a subjective outcome evaluation tool for participants in a positive youth development program in Hong...

Using confirmatory factor analyses, this study examined the factor structure and reliability of a subjective outcome evaluation tool for students with greater psychosocial needs within the context of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong.

To assess the views of program participants on the program content, implementer qualities, and program effectiveness of the Tier 2 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S., the Subjective Outcome Evaluation Form for Participants (Form C) was used. Data were collected from 8,893 Grade 7 participants after they had completed the Tier 2 Program.

The findings based on confirmatory factor analyses are generally consistent with the original hypotheses, providing support for the 3-factor model and the higher-order factor model containing 3 primary factors. Support for different types of factorial invariance based on 2 randomly split subsamples was also found. High coefficient alphas were found for the total scale and the 3 subscales.

Confirmatory factor analyses support the conceptual model underlying the Form C. Reliability analyses showed that the total scale and subscales possess excellent internal consistency.