Integrated Systems of Construct-Oriented Program Evaluation (ISCOPE): A comprehensive method for program evaluation

Program evaluation is an important tenet of public health education and health promotion. Existing in many different forms, the knowledge gained by evaluation is used to inform current and future health practices, policy decisions and programmatic funding. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that current frameworks are only assessing surface level effects and the results are largely underutilized by decision makers. The Integrated Systems of Construct-Oriented Program Evaluation (ISCOPE) model addresses these issues by re-conceptualizing an existing evaluation framework, the Integrated Model for Community Based Evaluation (IMCBE). Based on years of application of the IMCBE, and experiences in public health evaluation practices, the ISCOPE model allows for use beyond community-based settings, mechanism-based (alternate) explanations for results, and construction of practice-based evidence. Through use of rigorous scientific methods, the ISCOPE model allows the evaluators to streamline formative and summative evaluation activities. Further, the ISCOPE model emphasizes on inductive reasoning to bridge gaps between science and practice in diverse program settings. Finally, the versatility of the model facilitates the development of an evaluator-stakeholder relationship, enabling informed decision making about program improvement, effectiveness and its use. Discussion and recommendations will include current model applications, strategies to incorporate the framework into ongoing health programs and ways it can be adapted to fit individual evaluation needs.