scholarly journals Focus Group Evaluation from the Perspective of Program Implementers: Findings Based on the Secondary 2 Program

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 992-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Rachel C. F. Sun ◽  
Christina Y. P. Tang
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Chinese Adolescents ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Group Evaluation ◽  
Tier 1 ◽  
Research Findings

Nine focus groups comprising 23 program implementers recruited from nine schools were conducted to evaluate the Tier 1 Program (Secondary 2 Program) of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes). Qualitative findings showed that a majority of the program implementers regarded the program as beneficial to the program participants in different psychosocial domains. The program implementers also described the program positively and positive metaphors were used to represent the program. In conjunction with the previous research findings, the present study provides further support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of Project P.A.T.H.S. in promoting holistic development among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong.

scholarly journals Qualitative Evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S. Based on the Perceptions of the Program Participants

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2254-2263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Tak Yan Lee ◽  
Andrew Siu ◽  
Ching Man Lam
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Chinese Adolescents ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Specific Focus ◽  
Tier 1

Qualitative evaluation was carried out to understand the perceptions of the students participating in the Tier 1 Program of the P.A.T.H.S. Project. Five focus groups based on 43 students recruited from four schools were conducted to generate qualitative data to evaluate the program. With specific focus on how the informants described the program, results showed that the descriptors used were mainly positive in nature. When the informants were invited to name three metaphors that could stand for the program, the related metaphors were basically positive in nature. Finally, the program participants perceived many beneficial effects of the program in different psychosocial domains. Intra- and inter-rater reliability analyses revealed that the coding of the positive or negative nature of the responses was reliable. The present study provides qualitative support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in promoting holistic development in Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong.

scholarly journals Qualitative Evaluation of Project P.A.T.H.S.: An Integration of Findings Based on Program Participants

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Rachel C. F. Sun
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Chinese Adolescents ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Specific Focus ◽  
Tier 1

An integration of the qualitative evaluation findings collected in different cohorts of students who participated in Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) (n=252students in 29 focus groups) was carried out. With specific focus on how the informants described the program, results showed that the descriptions were mainly positive in nature, suggesting that the program was well received by the program participants. When the informants were invited to name three metaphors that could stand for the program, positive metaphors were commonly used. Beneficial effects of the program in different psychosocial domains were also voiced by the program participants. The qualitative findings integrated in this paper provide further support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of Project P.A.T.H.S. in promoting holistic development in Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong.

Qualitative evaluation of Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong: focus groups based on Secondary 3 program implementers

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-252
Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Social Programs ◽  
School Year ◽  
Tier 1 ◽  
Research Findings

Abstract Ten focus groups comprising 42 program implementers recruited from 10 schools were conducted to evaluate the Tier 1 Program (Secondary 3) of Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs) in the 2008/09 school year. Results showed that a majority of the program implementers used positive descriptors and metaphors to represent the program and they perceived that the program benefited the program participants in various psychosocial domains. In conjunction with the previous research findings, the present study provides further support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of Project P.A.T.H.S.

scholarly journals Qualitative Evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: Findings Based on Focus Groups with Student Participants

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 691-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Catalina S. M. Ng
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Chinese Adolescents ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Specific Focus ◽  
Tier 1 ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Positive Program

This paper reports a qualitative evaluation study conducted to explore the perceptions of students who joined the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. A total of 92 students were randomly selected to participate in 10 focus groups, which provided qualitative data for the study. With specific focus on how the informants described the program, the descriptors used were primarily positive; the metaphors named by the informants that could stand for the program were basically positive. Program participants also perceived the program to be beneficial in different psychosocial domains. The present study lends further support to the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in promoting holistic development in Chinese adolescents.

scholarly journals Secondary Data Analyses of Subjective Outcome Evaluation Data Based on Nine Databases

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Program Implementation ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Subjective Outcome ◽  
Evaluation Data ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
School Based ◽  
Data Analyses ◽  
Tier 1

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in Hong Kong by analyzing 1,327 school-based program reports submitted by program implementers. In each report, program implementers were invited to write down five conclusions based on an integration of the subjective outcome evaluation data collected from the program participants and program implementers. Secondary data analyses were carried out by aggregating nine databases, with 14,390 meaningful units extracted from 6,618 conclusions. Results showed that most of the conclusions were positive in nature. The findings generally showed that the workers perceived the program and program implementers to be positive, and they also pointed out that the program could promote holistic development of the program participants in societal, familial, interpersonal, and personal aspects. However, difficulties encountered during program implementation (2.15%) and recommendations for improvement were also reported (16.26%). In conjunction with the evaluation findings based on other strategies, the present study suggests that the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. is beneficial to the holistic development of the program participants.

scholarly journals Focus Groups in Hospitality Research Why are they not used in Jordan?

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 348
Author(s):  
Mousa Masadeh ◽  
Mukhles Al-Ababneh ◽  
Samer Al-Sabi ◽  
Bashar Maaiah
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Research Tool ◽  
Group Training ◽  
Educational Funding ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Research And Education

The purpose of this study is to identify the reasons for the lack of focus groups in Jordan by conducting a focus group with twenty four Academics from Jordanian Universities. Focus groups are commonly used for academic purposes and taught at colleges and universities. The outcome of focus groups for marketing, especially in the tourism industry, is a beneficial learning tool. Focus groups, however, are rarely used for a number of reasons. This research tool is foreign to university students, and unless they study abroad, they are not exposed to a wide range of research and education tools. There are barriers that exist with focus groups. These barriers include: government and educational funding, cultural limitations, personal expectations, teaching materials and resources. Following this research, the recommendations are to have focus groups implemented in Jordanian school systems and to conduct focus group training sessions, encourage students to use them as a research tool and explain the link between focus groups and the hospitality industry. By limiting curriculums in Jordanian education systems, students will not have the proper knowledge or skills once they graduate to compete with markets outside of Jordan. Recommendations are discussed based on the author’s research findings.

scholarly journals Qualitative Evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: An Integration of Findings Based on Program Implementers

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Interrater Reliability ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Data Analyses ◽  
Tier 1

An integration of the qualitative evaluation findings collected from program implementers conducting the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in different years (n=177participants in 36 focus groups) was carried out. General qualitative data analyses utilizing intra and interrater reliability techniques were performed. Results showed that the descriptors used to describe the program and the metaphors named by the informants that could stand for the program were generally positive in nature. Program participants also perceived the program to be beneficial to the development of the students in different psychosocial domains. The present study further supports the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong based on the perspective of the program implementers.

Program implementers’ evaluation of Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong: a study based on different cohorts

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Pik Fong Tsui
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Secondary Data Analysis ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Subjective Outcome ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
School Year ◽  
Tier 1

Abstract A total of 216 schools participated in the Tier 1 Program (Secondary 1, 2 and 3 levels) of Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in the 2008/09 school year. Based on the subjective outcome evaluation findings collected from students and instructors in each grade, the program implementers wrote down five conclusions in their reports. Utilizing secondary data analysis, the conclusions in the reports were further analyzed. Results showed that most of the conclusions concerning perceptions of the program, instructors and effectiveness of the program were positive in nature. There were also conclusions indicating difficulties encountered and recommendations for improvement. The result of the present study is consistent with previous studies using the same method as well as using other evaluation means for the same grades. The findings suggest that the Tier 1 Program is well received by the stakeholders and the program is effective in promoting the holistic development of adolescents.

Focus group evaluation of teachers’ views on a new general education program in Hong Kong

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Lu Yu ◽  
Xinli Chi
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
General Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Difficulty Level ◽  
Freshman Seminar ◽  
Group Evaluation ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Using teachers’ focus group interviews (n=40), this study examined the impact of the General University Requirements (GUR) implemented at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Results showed that teachers were generally satisfied with the GUR subjects and its implementation in its second year. Teachers regarded the design of GUR subjects was good and the students generally welcomed the subjects. Interactive teaching and learning methods adopted in GUR subjects such as fieldwork, hands-on projects, and team debates were highly appreciated by the respondents. Teachers also reflected that the GUR had promoted the intrapersonal and interpersonal development of the students. However, several challenges were also reported by teachers, including the difficulty level of Freshman Seminar subjects and lack of interaction in some GUR subjects, which suggested directions for further improvements.

scholarly journals Participants’ Evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: Are Findings Based on Different Datasets Consistent?

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Rachel C. F. Sun
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Multiple Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Perceived Effectiveness ◽  
Subjective Outcome ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Tier 1

Subjective outcome evaluation findings based on the perspective of the participants of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in nine datasets collected from 2005 to 2009 (n=206,313program participants) were examined in this paper. Based on the consolidated data with schools as units, results showed that the participants generally had positive perceptions of the program, implementers, and benefits of the program. More than four-fifths of the participants regarded the program as beneficial to their holistic development. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the perceived qualities of the program and the program implementers predicted perceived effectiveness of the program. Based on the subjective outcome evaluation findings, the present study provides support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong.

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