A comparative case study illustrating the influence of a system perspective on the outcome evaluation of simple versus complex interventions
| Published date | 01 June 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1035719X231160584 |
| Author | Ralph Renger,Jessica Renger,Richard N Van Eck,Marc D Basson,Jirina Renger |
| Date | 01 June 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Practice Articles |
Practice Article
Evaluation Journal of Australasia
2023, Vol. 23(2) 101–110
© The Author(s) 2023
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DOI: 10.1177/1035719X231160584
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A comparative case study
illustrating the influence of a
system perspective on the
outcome evaluation of simple
versus complex interventions
Ralph Renger
Just Evaluation Services, LLC, USA
Jessica Renger
Claremont Graduate University, USA
Richard N Van Eck and Marc D Basson
University of North Dakota, USA
Jirina Renger
Walden University, USA
Abstract
When evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention, the evaluation approach must
match the intervention complexity, ensuring that the chosen evaluation is “fit for
purpose.”For simple interventions, evaluating short-, mid-, and long-term outcomes is
appropriate. However, for complex interventions, an additional outcome that must be
considered is the essential system property that emerges as a result of the interaction
of interdependent intervention components. By focusing on the emergent system
property, evaluators are better able to assess the holistic effectiveness of a complex
intervention. This article illustrates this principle through a comparative case study of a
simple intervention and a complex intervention within a National Institute of Health
(NIH) funded Clinical Translational Research center. The analysis illustrates that a
more effective and appropriate evaluation results when a complex intervention,
Corresponding author:
Ralph Renger, Just Evaluation Services, LLC, 14777 E. Circle M Ranch Place, Vail, AZ 85641, USA.
Email: ralph@justevaluation.com
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