Unit Outline

Evaluation is a core function and responsibility of public health professionals and provides evidence to improve the design, delivery, reach and impact of health interventions in the many different contexts of the health system. This unit develops foundation competencies in health intervention evaluation, including stakeholder consultation, evaluation design and planning, needs assessment, logic modelling, evaluability assessment and conceptual frameworks relevant to evaluation in public health practice. This is underpinned by exploration of the different evaluation approaches and research and evaluation methods used in public health practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Describe the application and importance of health intervention evaluation in health system improvement.
2.	Describe and apply key approaches to conducting health needs and evaluability assessments.
3.	Describe the strengths and limitations of different health intervention evaluation types, approaches, data collection and analysis methods.
4.	Design a public health intervention evaluation plan using contemporary and appropriate approaches to stakeholder engagement, logic modelling and data collection and analysis methods.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA229 - Planning Public Health Interventions

Alterations as a result of student feedback

No alterations have been made as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Assignment	Week 13	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Discussion Board Posts	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Assignment	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Assignment

Task Description:

You will develop your knowledge and skills in designing and communicating an evaluation plan for a public health intervention. Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of your evaluation plan. Further detail is available on Mylo.

Task Length:

3000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe and justify the choice of evaluation design, methods, and processes to evaluate a public health intervention.	LO3, LO4
2	Provide an overview of the intervention, context, focus and evaluation questions.	LO1, LO2
3	Critically reflect on your evaluation approach	LO3, LO4
4	Use evidence to support your ideas	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Discussion Board Posts

Task Description:

The discussion board is an important forum that promotes interaction and discussion between you and your fellow students. You will complete discussion posts pre and post a public health intervention.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Ongoing engagement in relevant academic communication with well supported arguments.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Analyse your expectations and aspirations of a public health intervention	LO2, LO3
3	Analyse and evaluate your overall experience of a public health intervention compared to your expectations.	LO2, LO3
4	Respond respectfully.	LO2

Assessment Task 3: Assignment

Task Description:

Undertake an intervention analysis by describing the key elements of an intervention, developing a program logic model and theory of change. Further detail is available on Mylo.

Task Length:

1500 words + visuals

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provide a description of key elements, context, and rationale for the intervention	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Present a program logic model.	LO2, LO3
3	Describe the theory of change.	LO2, LO3
4	Use evidence to support your ideas.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

You will need the following text. All of these books are available online as eBooks through the University of Tasmania library.
1.   Hughes R, Margetts B, Practical Public Health Nutrition, Wiley Blackwell. 2016 ISBN 9781444329223
2.   Dwyer J, Zhanming L, Thiessen V, Project management in health and community services – getting good ideas to work. 3rd edition. 2019. Routledge. ISBN: 9781760632816
3.   Bauman A, Nutbeam D, Evaluation in a nutshell, 3rd edition. 2022. McGraw Hill Australia, ISBN: 9781760427177