Statewide outcome evaluation: an introduction to the special issue

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Program Evaluation

Background:

• Historical development of statewide outcome evaluation.
• Need for a structured approach to evaluating outcomes across states.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce a model for statewide outcome evaluation.
• Outline major issues in conducting such evaluations.
• Provide an overview of the special issue's content.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of evaluation practices.
• Conceptual model development for statewide evaluation.
• Introduction to subsequent research articles.

Main Results:

• A proposed model for statewide outcome evaluation is presented.
• Key challenges and considerations for evaluation are identified.
• The structure and content of the special issue are outlined.

Conclusions:

• The article establishes a framework for understanding statewide outcome evaluation.
• It highlights critical factors for successful program assessment.
• It serves as a guide to the comprehensive collection of articles presented.