Overview Ethics and Consents

Before the web site is launched:
It is important to think about evaluation of the project when you are designing the project. We used the logic model to assist us in determining some of our evaluation criteria. We addressed program components, activities, target groups, short term and long term outcomes. Interpreting findings from evaluation data leads to decision making about later program changes and sustainability.

Also, we engaged community youth in think tanks early on in the project to identify indicators of success.

Once your web site is launched:
You may find that you need to modify the indicators of success as you learn from youth and service providers about what is important to them.

We identified tools and activities to help us measure the success of our web site including:

Tracking web site utilization statistics

Conducting an online survey

for youth who used the web site
for local professionals serving Huron County youth

Conducting phone interviews

with youth using the web site

Conducting in-person focus groups

with health unit staff who worked with youth on the project
with community service workers who worked with youth on the project

Completing a content analysis of online postings on the web site’s discussion forums

Useful web site for program evaluation is:

Program Evaluation Toolkit

Spark Logic Model (Doc)
Spark Logic Model (PDF)

Use research to guide evaluation

Example of Spark think tank evaluation statements

Identify indicators of success

Ethics review boards

Since we planned to evaluate the web site project, we were required to obtain ethics approval for all of our evaluation activities from our Ethics Review Board. Check with your agency regarding the Ethics Review board in your jurisdiction. It would be important to consult with them before conducting any evaluation activities. Start this process early. Review boards can take from 1 to 3 months before you obtain final approval.

Start to work on getting ethics review approval early.

Here are links to the consent forms we used.

1. Agency Information Sheet (Doc)

2. Health Unit Intro & Consent (Doc)

3. Youth Recruit, Email Consent (Doc)

4. Youth Letter of Intro & Consent (Doc)

5. Youth Core Consents (Doc)