PS282 Chapter 10: PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IS CHALLENGING
Document Summary
Results from 46 programs focused on preventation of child/adolescence substance abuse. Mean effect size overall was only 0. 02, 21 of the 36 were had negative effect sizes. Programs that were behavioural/skills based and those based on a coherent theory were most effective. Found many of the control groups were not actually control groups and the programs were implemented in very different ways at the different sites. When statistically controlling for these factors, estimated effect sizes rose to 0. 24. Program implementation itself must be the subject of serious research. Concepts of how to best transfer effective educational programs/adapt them to new host settings have evolved over 4 stages: cookbook: Staff trained in methods used by program developers. Carried out as similarly as possible: adaption: Models understood to require adaptation to unique context of host site. Developer serves as consultant in making necessary changes: invention/innovation: Models seen as sources of inspo rather than procedures to replicate/adapt.
