Steps > Evaluating > Types of Evaluations

The type of evaluation you choose depends on when you do it and the kind of information you collect.

This section describes when to use three types: formative, process and summative (outcome) evaluations.

During the Planning Stage

Use formative evaluations in the planning stages to ensure that your program is based on solid information. These evaluations also help you to develop effective and appropriate materials and procedures.

Examples of formative evaluations include:

• records of management commitments to the program

• employee interest surveys

• workplace environmental assessments

• pre-testing of program materials

During Your Initiative

A process evaluation is used when the initiative is underway. These evaluations help you:

• track what is going well and what isn’t (and how to revise your program)
• find out if you are reaching the employees you want to reach
• describe the initiative to others
• monitor who is participating in the initiative

During or After Your Initiative

Summative evaluations (also referred to as outcome evaluation) happen when the initiative is already in place or completed.

Use this type of evaluation to measure if the program was successful (changes in health measures or productivity), what employees liked about the initiative and what could be improved.

If you wish to measure changes after the program (e.g., health, productivity or economic measures), make sure initial assessments were conducted before the program began.

Find out More

Evaluating Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion: A resource from the Health Communication Unit at the Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto. This resource offers information about why you do evaluations, the types of evaluation to use, methods of measurement, building support for the evaluation and steps in the evaluation.

Workplace Physical Activity Framework Audit Tool: A resource from the Alberta Centre for Active Living. Use this tool to evaluate a physical activity initiative in the workplace.