Employee Wellness Newsletter : Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Types of Evaluation

The sort of evaluation you choose depends on when you do it and the kind of information you collect.

This section describes when to use three types: formative, process and summative evaluations.

During the Planning Stage

Use formative evaluations in the planning stages to see that your program is built on solid information. These evaluations also help you to advance effective and appropriate materials and procedures.

Examples of formative evaluations include:

• records of upper management commitments to the program
• employee interest surveys
• workplace environmental assessments
• pre-testing of program materials

During Your Initiative

A process evaluation is used when the program is underway. These evaluations help you:

• track what is going well and what isn’t (and how to revise your program)
• learn if you are reaching the employees you want to reach
• describe the plan to others
• monitor who is participating in the initiative

During or Following Your Initiative

Summative evaluations happen when the plan is already in place or completed. Use this type of assessment to measure what staff members like about the plan and what might be improved.

All three types of evaluations are useful. The evaluation you choose depends on the time and financial resources you have available.