Citation

Nishimura ST, Hishinuma ES, Goebert DA, Onoye JM, Sugimoto-Matsuda JJ. Eval. Program Plann. 2018; 66: 174-182.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2017.02.010

PMID

28274485

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To provide one model for evaluating academic research centers, given their vital role in addressing public health issues.

METHODS: A theoretical framework is described for a comprehensive evaluation plan for research centers. This framework is applied to one specific center by describing the center's Logic Model and Evaluation Plan, including a sample of the center's activities.

RESULTS: Formative and summative evaluation information is summarized. In addition, a summary of outcomes is provided: improved practice and policy; reduction of risk factors and increase in protective factors; reduction of interpersonal youth violence in the community; and national prototype for prevention of interpersonal youth violence.

CONCLUSIONS: Research centers are important mechanisms to advance science and improve people's quality of life. Because of their more infrastructure-intensive and comprehensive approach, they also require substantial resources for success, and thus, also require careful accountability. It is therefore important to comprehensively evaluate these centers. As provided herein, a more systematic and structured approach utilizing logic models, an evaluation plan, and successful processes can provide research centers with a functionally useful method in their evaluation.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; Program evaluation; Research centers; Youth violence prevention