A practical example of Contribution Analysis to a public health intervention

Janice S. Biggs; Louise Farrell; Glenda Lawrence; Julie K. Johnson

doi:10.1177/1356389014527527

A practical example of Contribution Analysis to a public health intervention

Janice S. Biggs, Louise Farrell, Glenda Lawrence, Julie K. Johnson

Surgery

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

The theory of Contribution Analysis (CA) as a method of evaluating complex programs has been written about extensively and has evolved considerably since it was first introduced by John Mayne in 1999. We applied Mayne's six steps to CA and Lemire et al.'s newly proposed framework, the Relevant Explanation Finder (REF), to a state-wide public health intervention delivered in New South Wales, Australia. We argue that CA in conjunction with the REF adds value in improving practitioners' understanding of the assumptions and underlying mechanisms which influence program delivery and outcomes in real world practice. This participatory process increased practitioners' ownership and accountability for the program logic and drive for improvement. Although the REF has several methodological benefits we argue that the framework needs to be sufficiently flexible to account for different levels of available evidence and stages of program delivery.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	214-229
Number of pages	16
Journal	Evaluation
Volume	20
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1356389014527527
State	Published - Apr 2014

Keywords

Contribution Analysis
Influencing factors
Mechanism for change
Practical example
Public health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Development
Sociology and Political Science

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1177/1356389014527527

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abstract = "The theory of Contribution Analysis (CA) as a method of evaluating complex programs has been written about extensively and has evolved considerably since it was first introduced by John Mayne in 1999. We applied Mayne's six steps to CA and Lemire et al.'s newly proposed framework, the Relevant Explanation Finder (REF), to a state-wide public health intervention delivered in New South Wales, Australia. We argue that CA in conjunction with the REF adds value in improving practitioners' understanding of the assumptions and underlying mechanisms which influence program delivery and outcomes in real world practice. This participatory process increased practitioners' ownership and accountability for the program logic and drive for improvement. Although the REF has several methodological benefits we argue that the framework needs to be sufficiently flexible to account for different levels of available evidence and stages of program delivery.",

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note = "Funding Information: We thank the staff from Local Health Districts and the NGO for their contribution and Professor Chris Rissel from the NSW Office of Preventive Health for comments on previous drafts. This work was completed while Janice Biggs was an employee of the NSW Public Health Officer Training Program, funded by the NSW Ministry of Health. She undertook this work whilst based at the NSW Office of Preventive Health. The Public Health Officer Training Program is offered in partnership with the University of New South Wales. ",

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A practical example of Contribution Analysis to a public health intervention

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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