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Poster Reception #1

Program Design

Session: Poster Reception #1

111 - Moving from Concept to Concrete: Defining the Construct of “Engagement” in Evaluating a Community Engagement Program

Stream: Program Development and Design

Wednesday, October 23, 2024
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM PST
Abstract Information: How do you demonstrate "increased engagement"? This question drives the work of a team of new evaluators in regards to public libraries and users engaging with a complex, NIH-funded research initiative. Defining and measuring "engagement" presents many challenges, from accounting for multiple stakeholders to constraints on interactions with key audience groups. This presentation will share what our team learned through a multi-pronged and iterative approach that leveraged program staff and library staff feedback, community-based participatory research expert advice, and analysis of participant feedback to increase our understanding of how to measure and define engagement in a meaningful way to funders and other stakeholders. The presenters will share best practices for evaluators working on longitudinal, complex evaluation projects with various stakeholders that require a shared understanding of outcome definitions and metrics.