An evaluation of quantitative and qualitative assessment techniques on the impact of the SERR curriculum

This study measured the effectiveness of a smoking risk reduction program for sixth grade students using a pretest/posttest control group design with the addition of a nonequivalent control group. Knowledge of the health consequences of smoking, decision-making, resistance-to-persuasion skills, and tobacco use were analyzed quantitatively; program implementation, participant views of the program, and program effects were analyzed qualitatively; and the quantitative data were analyzed in terms of its consistency with the qualitative data. Analysis of quantitative results revealed significant differences between groups on the smoking knowledge test, decision-making skills, and resistance-to-persuasion skills. Qualitative results not only substantiated quantitative results, but also revealed overall participant satisfaction with the program. They also indicated the need for a close working relationship between teachers, state and local health educators, reorganization of the curriculum, and relinquishing of curriculum to school districts for self-scheduling and organization. Utilization of both methods of analysis yielded a closer estimate of total program impact than if only method of analysis had been used.