Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

Which characteristic best describes a summative evaluation?

1. Assessment of implementation processes

2. Determination of program impacts

3. Understanding participant experiences

4. Identification of training needs

The correct answer is: Determination of program impacts

A summative evaluation is primarily concerned with measuring the outcomes and impacts of a program after it has been implemented. Its main goal is to determine whether the program achieved its intended objectives and to assess the overall effectiveness of the intervention. This may involve analyzing data to understand how well the program succeeded in bringing about the desired changes in knowledge, behavior, health outcomes, or other relevant factors. In contrast, other characteristics relate to different types of evaluations. For instance, assessing implementation processes aligns more with formative evaluation, which focuses on how a program is executed and offers real-time feedback to improve processes. Understanding participant experiences typically falls under qualitative evaluation methods that explore user perceptions and insights, and identifying training needs is an assessment that looks at gaps before or during program implementation rather than after it has concluded. Thus, the focus of summative evaluation on the determination of program impacts distinctly sets it apart.