Health Handouts : Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Types of Evaluation

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

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

During the Development Stage

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

Examples of formative evaluations include:

• records of senior staff 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 initiative 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 staff members you want to reach
• describe the plan to others
• monitor who is participating in the initiative

During or Following Your Initiative

Summative evaluations take place when the plan is already in place or completed. Use this sort of assessment to measure what workers like about the plan and what might be improved.

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