Certified Prevention Professional (CPP) Practice Exam

Which aspect of evaluation methods focuses on understanding the effectiveness of interventions?

1. Outcome Evaluation

2. Process Evaluation

3. Formative Evaluation

4. Summative Evaluation

The correct answer is: Outcome Evaluation

Outcome evaluation is integral to measuring the effectiveness of interventions because it specifically assesses the changes that occur as a result of the intervention. This type of evaluation examines whether the desired outcomes have been achieved, such as improvements in knowledge, behavior, or health indicators, providing clear evidence of the impact of the prevention efforts. In contrast, process evaluation focuses on the implementation of the intervention. It evaluates how the program is delivered, including fidelity to the program design, participant engagement, and the processes involved in delivering the intervention. While it offers valuable insights into how and why an intervention works, it does not directly measure the effectiveness of the intervention itself. Formative evaluation, on the other hand, is conducted during the development or early implementation phases of an intervention. It aims to improve the program by gathering feedback on its design and delivery before it is fully rolled out. This type of evaluation is critical for shaping interventions but does not focus on assessing effectiveness. Lastly, summative evaluation occurs after an intervention has been implemented and looks at the overall outcomes and impacts. While this type of evaluation assesses whether the intervention met its objectives, it is typically broader and encompasses various outcomes rather than specifically focusing on the effectiveness of each intervention component. By concentrating on the measurable outcomes and impacts directly linked