Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

What type of evaluation focuses on the effectiveness of an educational intervention after it has been implemented?

1. Process evaluation

2. Formative evaluation

3. Summative evaluation

4. Qualitative evaluation

The correct answer is: Summative evaluation

The focus of the evaluation that assesses the effectiveness of an educational intervention after its implementation is known as summative evaluation. This type of evaluation measures the outcomes and impacts of the intervention, determining whether it achieved its intended goals and objectives. Summative evaluation often employs quantitative metrics, such as test scores or behavior changes, to provide a clear assessment of effectiveness and inform decisions regarding future programming. In contrast, process evaluation examines the implementation of the intervention itself, looking at the fidelity to the planned activities, participant engagement, and the overall delivery process. It provides insight into how well the intervention was executed rather than its ultimate success. Formative evaluation occurs during the development and implementation phases, focusing on gathering feedback and making adjustments to improve the intervention continuously. It helps in refining educational strategies but does not assess effectiveness post-implementation. Qualitative evaluation seeks to understand the experiences and perceptions of participants regarding the intervention through non-numeric data, such as interviews or open-ended surveys. While it can provide rich insights, it does not quantitatively measure the effectiveness of the intervention like summative evaluation does.