Example of Assignment #2, Using the
Framework for Examining Methodological Rigor of Prevention Intervention Studies
Class,
The example, beginning on page 1, uses the handout, Framework for Examining
Methodological Rigor of Prevention Intervention Studies, described in The Summary,
Chapter 2 and Chapter 7 (Mrazek & Haggerty, 1994). The pages annotate the Framework
Guidelines and other requirements (using examples from Fang & Schinke, 2013).
To structure your assignment, follow the guidelines in the “Framework”, in the syllabus, as
discussed in class, and on your Assignment #2 Grading Sheet (49 Score boxes for 272 points).
This example has 3,019 words of text – Title Page and References are not included. Use the
same sections and headings as in the example. The Assignment #2 Grading Sheet is
annotated with criteria on the following pages. Use the Grading Sheet as your checklist.
This example is an evaluation of:
Susser, E., Valencia, E., Conover, S., Felix, A., Tsai, W.Y., & Wyatt, R. J. (1997). Preventing
recurrent homelessness among mentally ill men: A “critical time” intervention after
discharge from a shelter. American Journal of Public Health, 87(2), 256-262.
Your assignment for Paper #2 is an evaluation of the original prevention science
research paper you have chosen, and that received the Greenlight.
Paper #2 will be due on , and count toward 40% of your grade. The
Blackboard on SafeAssign,
before the beginning of class ).
Write with your own words and ideas and interpretations.
All the best,
–
Prevention Science
Your Paper has 49 sections. The full 49 section rubric is found below and will be graded
according to the following criteria:
Title/Question # Pts
A) Content: Label and Discuss Each of the following Categories –
> Introduction: Give an overview of the need for the study, the hypotheses of
study and the planned actions of the study. What nothing did they achieve?
1. 10
I) Risk and Protective Factors
I.A Documentation of the Problem and its Risk & Protective Factors 2. 6
I.B Relationship of Risk & Protective Factors to the Developmental Tasks of the
Targeted Groups: Here the connection is made to the developmental stage(s)
targeted. For Fang this is adolescence (daughters) and adulthood (mothers).
3. 6
I.C Causal Status of the Risk & Protective Factors: see pg 789, Factors Contributing 4. 6
I.D Malleable or Modifiable Risk & Protective Factors 5. 6
I.E Correlation of Risk & Protective Factors with Incidence & Prevalence:
Incidence refers to the rate at which new cases of the disorder arise. Prevalence is the proportion
of the population with the disorder. You need to explain both in your answer.
6. 6
II) Targeted Population
II.A Categories: Universal, Selective, Indicated, Relapse, Describe all that apply. 7. 6
II.B Evidence that the group is at risk for the disorder see Fang pg 788, The first
paragraph has information that supports this.
8. 6
II.C Targeted Sociodemographic Variables 9. 4
III) Intervention Program
III.A Goals & Content (Ingredients – What?) : Scales, Measures and Interventions 10. 6
III.B Protocols (Recipe – How?):
This would be an overview of the study’s parts. Think of it as a describing subway
stops from a train. This includes Follow up measures and booster.
11. 8
III.C Personnel Delivering the Intervention 12. 4
III.D Equipment or Instrumentation:
Hard (computers, modems . . .) and Soft (measures, scales . . . )
13. 4
III.E Method of Delivery and Techniques:
How participants received assessments & interventions: How?
14. 8
III.F Multiple or Consecutive Components/Models What? 15. 6
III.G Site(s): Location of both where the intervention takes place and the location of sponsoring organization(s) 16. 6
III.H Institutional or Cultural Context:
Who administers the study, where do they work? Is there grant support? What
is the culture of the investigators and participants?
17. 6
III.I Ethical Consideration:
This has to do with IRB compliance, consent and assent, and payments.
18. 4
Prevention Science
III.J Duration: Total Time of the Study from beginning until last assessment.
& Extent: Total Time persons spend on intervention & Assessments (Details in V.A).
19. 4
IV) Research Methodologies
IV.A Methods of Recruitment 20. 5
IV.B Sample Size and Demographics of Study 21. 4
IV.C Randomization & Control Group: How were these groups chosen? 22. 4
IV.D Baseline Measures: Scales that will be again measured longitudinally. 23. 5
IV.E Statistical Analysis: pg 791 in Fang – Summarize 24. 4
IV.F Attrition of Subjects: who and how many left the study 25. 5
V) Implementation
V.A Exposure of Target Group to Intervention:
Extent (III.J), with additional focus and details about what the participants
learned and did in the intervention group (including Booster).
26. 6
V.B Fidelity of Delivery in Accordance with Design: pg 791 27. 6
V.C Core Sciences Utilized: discuss which of the Core Sciences were used in the
Fang Article. Discuss each Core Science and describe if and how each was (or
was not) used.
28. 6
V.D Intervention Stage in Research Cycle 29. 8
VI) Outcomes
VI.A Change in Status of Malleable Risk and/or Protective Factors:
What did – and what did not – change?
30. 6
VI.B Evidence of Reduction of New Cases (Incidence):
Were there fewer new cases in the Intervention group?
31. 6
VI.C Evidence of Delay of Onset:
Did people in the intervention group wait longer before using substances?
32. 5
VI.D Adverse Effects: Were any persons harmed by the intervention? 33. 3
VI.E Benefit – Cost & Cost –Effectiveness Analysis: Do the researchers provide
costs of the intervention and how much money is saved by the prevention
demonstrated in the study? Can you make a logical argument from the data about
how money could be saved by this intervention? Was the intervention worth
the costs?
34. 6
VI.F Changes in Problem