USING SELF-REPORTS TO MEASURE PROGRAM IMPACT

In order to demonstrate success, pregnancy prevention programs must sh ow that their participants have changed their behavior. Accurately mea suring levels of sexual activity and contraceptive use are important t o determining program efficacy. These measures can be reliably obtaine d, but careful attention must be given to what is measured and how. In this paper, based on our experience conducting the National Survey of Adolescent Males, we offer several guidelines for measuring program e ffects on behavior. Successful evaluations should accurately describe program participants, including who is being targeted, who has partici pated in other programs, and who has already engaged in the behaviors that the program is intended to prevent; measure program outcomes by p rogram logic and goals; employ research protocols that ensure strict c onfidentiality and the effective administration of surveys; and double -check responses to see that they correlate with other available evide nce.