Using a Process Evaluation in Extension Programming: Takeaways for Teams

Health fields use process evaluations to measure how closely an intervention aligns with its intended delivery. Despite their potential for improving Cooperative Extension programming and impacts, process evaluations are not widely used outside the medical sciences. We adapted the process evaluation framework for Extension use. The components assess project components such as content, dose delivered, dose received, and reach, as well as moderating factors such as quality of delivery, participant responsiveness, complexity, facilitation strategy, recruitment, and context. The modified process evaluation framework was used to assess an Extension project in the Northeast region of the U.S. Extension teams in the U.S. often face time and funding constraints, and using the modified process evaluation framework can provide reflective feedback and improvements without necessitating significant resource inputs. This paper outlines the components of process evaluation and how to implement it in a social science setting, including Extension. The takeaways for teams are to: develop a recruitment plan, conduct a competency assessment, develop a backwards plan and data collection plan, and collect formative feedback. These five activities will strengthen the team and its effectiveness, while also facilitating the process evaluation for further improvements.