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Using ethnography in the evaluation of drug prevention and intervention programs
1Center for Program Evaluation, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, New York 10013.
The International Journal of the Addictions
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Innovative evaluation designs are needed for community substance misuse programs. Ethnographic fieldwork, combined with surveys, offers a successful triangulation approach for comprehensive program assessment.
Area of Science:
- Program Evaluation
- Public Health
- Community Interventions
Background:
- Increasing funding for community-based substance misuse programs necessitates advanced evaluation methods.
- Traditional quantitative experimental designs alone are insufficient for capturing program impact.
- There is a growing need for mixed-methods approaches in program evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolving role of ethnography in program evaluation.
- To demonstrate the development and utility of ethnographic methods in evaluation research.
- To report on the integration of ethnography within a triangulation evaluation design.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a triangulation evaluation approach.
- Incorporating ethnographic fieldwork alongside statistically analyzed survey instruments.
- Applying ethnographic methods within a mixed-methods evaluation framework.
Main Results:
- Ethnographic fieldwork, as part of a triangulation design, effectively addresses the limitations of traditional evaluations.
- This approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of program processes and outcomes.
- The integration of ethnography enhances the depth and validity of evaluation findings.
Conclusions:
- Ethnography is a valuable component of modern program evaluation, particularly for community-based initiatives.
- Triangulation designs combining quantitative and qualitative methods offer robust insights.
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. successfully implemented ethnography in their evaluation practices.