Process Evaluation And Outcome Evaluation Research Proposals Examples

The purpose of this proposal is to evaluate the efficacy of a new treatment program for substance abusers in federal correction institutions. It is important to evaluate the program once inmates who participated are paroled. Substance abuse is a major contributor to crime and maintaining a clean and/or sober lifestyle will contribute in a positive manner the parolees’ success upon reintroduction to society.
Not all substance abuse programs are effective. Many addicts and alcoholics who voluntarily participate in programs do not stay sober upon completion of the program. Long term sobriety is difficult to attain. Alcoholics and drug addicts exhibit longer periods of abstinence when they have follow-up and support. Durlak and DuPre (2008) stress that outcomes of programs are greatly influenced by outside variables such as community support, system providers and support systems.
The process evaluation will reveal if the program is effective in educating and providing group therapy to the inmates which is specifically directed towards their substance abuse problem. The outcome evaluation will follow up on participants when they are released and one year after their release. The information gathered will inform the sponsors of the program if the treatment is effective and if it has long term effects.
The process evaluation for the program will answer the question: What are the goals of the inmates when they are released? The independent variable for this portion of the program evaluation is the inmate’s attitude on participating in the program. The dependent variable is the effect of the program on the inmates’ plans pre-program and post-program.
Outcome evaluations are a critical part of any substance abuse program. It is not satisfactory to simply remain straight through the course of the program especially in a controlled environment like a prison. The success rate of parolees one they are released will determine the success of the program. The research question for the outcome study is: What is the rate of success for the program once the inmate is paroled? The independent variable in this study is sobriety. The dependent variable is attending a 12 step program.
The role of attending a twelve step program on a regular basis once paroled leads to an increased chance of remaining sober. According to Wotbrodt and Kaskutas (2005), 12 step programs, especially the helping of others and the social aspect of the groups have very good success in helping addicts and alcoholics alike maintain sobriety after a 12 month period. By documenting the inmates’ attitudes and plans before during and after treatment, the efficacy of the program can be validated or discounted.
The research that will be needed to complete this study involves the use of interviews and surveys. Inmates will be interviewed and will complete a self-assessment before they begin the program. Information that will be gathered will be: how do you feel about participating; what do you expect to gain; where do you see yourself when you are released; what substance did you abuse? They will complete the same interview and survey upon completion of the program. This will allow the researchers to compare their responses with the research question of the inmates’ attitude towards the program.
Another survey and interview will be employed in a follow-up, 12 months after release. The program strongly suggests participating in a twelve step program but it is not required. While incarcerated, the inmates were introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous through members who presented meetings once a week in the prison. The follow-up survey will measure the number of inmates who participated who remained abstinent and how many are attending twelve step meetings.

References

Dulak, J. A. and DuPre, E. P. (2008). Implementation matters: A review of research on the
influence of implementation on program outcomes and factors affecting implementation.”
American Journal of Community 41, 327-350.
Wotbrodt, J. and Kaskutas, A. (2005). “Does diagnosis matter? Differential effects of 12 Step
programs participation and social networks on abstinence.” The American Journal of Drug
and Alcohol Abuse 31(4), 685-707. doi: 10.1081/ADA-68486