Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Pre-Grant Application Training Workshop

1. Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Pre-Grant Application Training Workshop May 12, 2008 Carol P. Cotton, PhD Director, Traffic Safety Research and Evaluation Group University of Georgia, College of Public Health Dept. of Health Promotion and Behavior (706) 542-2804; fax (706) 583-0753 cpcotton@uga.edu

2. Purpose… • Write a grant that allows you to: • Show effectiveness of your program • Implement programs that are relevant for your community • Be innovative • Communication with GOHS and UGA program evaluation team is important • Asking questions is important

3. Objectives, Activities and Evaluation = Your Program • Mission Statement • Goals • Objectives • Activities Mission Statement Goals Objectives Activities

4. Writing Good Objectives • Objectives are: • Small steps • More precise than program goals • Steps that, if completed, will lead to reaching the program goal(s) • Objectives outline in measurable terms the specific changes that will occur in the target or primary population at a given point in time as a result of exposure to the program

5. Writing Good Objectives • Objectives: • Provide direction • Are useful in the evaluation process • Must be clearly understood • Must state what is to be accomplished • Must be measurable • Objectives have 4 elements/parts: • What = outcome • When = time or conditions • Who = primary or target population • How much = achievement criterion or change

6. Writing Good Objectives Measurability • Outcomes (what) • Defined as the action, behavior, or something else that will change as a result of the program (the verb in the objective) • Verbs such as appreciate, internalize, understand are NOT good choices • Verbs such as adopt, apply, complete, change, demonstrate, describe, identify, improve, facilitate, participate, practice, reduce, score, submit, test, try, volunteer ARE good choices • The verb must refer to something measurable and observable

7. Writing Good Objectives Measurability • Conditions or Time (when) • The conditions under which the outcome will be observed or, • When it will be observed • Examples: • Upon completion of the class • As a result of participation • By the year 2009 • When asked to respond by the teacher • Verbally in class

8. Writing Good Objectives Measurability • Criterion (how much) • The ‘benchmark’ for deciding when the outcome has been achieved or, • How much change will occur • The standard of successful or appropriate performance • Examples: • To no more than 105 per 1,000 • With 100% accuracy • As presented in the lecture • 300 pamphlets • 95% (of the motor vehicle occupants)

9. Writing Good Objectives Measurability • Primary/Target Population (who) • Who will change • Examples: • 1,000 teachers • All employees of the company • Those residing in Fulton and Clayton Counties • Class participants

10. Good Objective • By January 1, determine the attitudes of a random sample of Clarke County residents about highway safety issues. • Primary population: Clarke County residents • Outcome: determine • Conditions: by January 1 • Criterion: a random sample

11. Good Objective • By the end of the grant period, car seats that meet federal standards will be distributed to all program participants. • Primary population: all program participants • Outcome: will be distributed • Conditions: By the end of the grant period • Criterion: meet federal standards

12. SMART Objectives • S = STRAIGHT FORWARD • Simple statements that everyone can understand • M = MEASURABLE • An item or situation you can count or observe • A = ACTION-ORIENTED • The stronger the action verb, the stronger the objective • R = REALISTIC • Only commit to what you have a reasonable chance of accomplishing • T = TIME-SPECIFIC • Have a deadline

13. Evaluation • Objective: By January 1, determine the attitudes of a random sample of Clarke County residents about highway safety issues. • Activities: • Design the attitude survey (or locate an already developed instrument) • Hire staff to implement the survey • Implement the survey • Analyze the data • Evaluation: • Write and submit a report by January 1 that includes the results of the attitude survey.

14. Milestone Chart

15. Original Milestone Chart

16. Evaluation & Data Collection Instruments • Clearly Written • Pre & Post should be identical • Relevant • Do not make assumptions • Submit data collection instruments • We’ll be happy to review them!

17. Key Points • Increase, decrease, relative change = baseline data & a 2nd measure • A well-thought out program is consistent • Keep evaluation simple • Don’t collect data you don’t need • Evaluate each objective • ACCOUNT FOR EVERYTHING • On milestone chart OR in monthly report • Value-added items should be separate

18. Communication • Channels • Electronically via e-mail: cpcotton@uga.edu or jambar@uga.edu or james.barlament@gmail.com • Phone: (706) 542-2804; 583-0893 • Fax: (706) 583-0753 • When contacted by UGA evaluation team… • Copy emails to SMOORE@gohs.state.ga.us • please ask questions if unclear

19. Questions

20. Carol P. Cotton, PhD Director, Traffic Safety Research and Evaluation Group University of Georgia, College of Public Health Dept. of Health Promotion and Behavior (706) 542-2804; fax 583-0753 cpcotton@uga.edu James Barlament Research Professional University of Georgia, College of Public Health Dept. of Health Promotion and Behavior (706) 583-0893; fax 583-0753 jambar@uga.edu or james.barlament@gmail.com Contacts