Program Planning & Design Flashcards

A program is designed with a 'dose-response' assumption. Which planning element most directly tests this assumption?

Answer: Tracking participant attendance and linking it to outcome levels

Dose-response is tested by correlating amount of exposure (attendance/sessions completed) with magnitude of outcome change across participants.

In program design, 'theory of change' differs from a 'logic model' primarily because theory of change:

Answer: Explains the causal mechanisms and assumptions underlying program pathways

A theory of change articulates the 'why'—the causal assumptions and mechanisms—while a logic model is a visual summary of the 'what' (inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes).

A county health department plans a diabetes prevention program and wants to ensure sustainability beyond grant funding. Which planning strategy best addresses this?

Answer: Embedding program components into existing clinic workflows from the outset

Integrating program elements into routine clinical operations from day one builds institutional ownership and reduces dependence on external funding.

Which type of evaluation design is most appropriate when random assignment is not feasible and the program has already launched?

Answer: Quasi-experimental design with a matched comparison group

A quasi-experimental design using a matched comparison group provides stronger causal inference than a single-group design when random assignment is impossible.

Program planners use 'backward mapping' primarily to:

Answer: Start with desired outcomes and work backward to identify required activities and inputs

Backward mapping begins with the end goal and traces backward through outcomes, activities, and inputs to ensure alignment between resources and intended impact.

A program serving immigrant families adds culturally adapted materials but does not change core intervention components. This is an example of:

Answer: Surface-level adaptation

Surface-level adaptation modifies language, visuals, and cultural references while preserving the evidence-based core components that drive outcomes.

When developing a program budget during the planning phase, which item is most often underestimated by new program planners?

Answer: Indirect costs and administrative overhead

Indirect costs—facilities, administrative support, HR, and compliance functions—are frequently underestimated, leading to budget shortfalls during implementation.