The HPPAE can easily be evaluated using pre- and post-tests to assess process and outcomes at both the student and institutional levels. Students can be surveyed prior to starting the HPPAE and upon completion. If resources are available, you may also consider surveying a comparison group of students. For ease of implementation, surveys can be administered online using a publicly available site, such as www.surveymonkey.com. Institutional data are generally available in a schools administrative or deans office. Such data are often required in proposals, administrative reports, and reports to funders. Also, SWLI has 10 years worth of data on the HPPAE for your reference.

SWLI has a set of comprehensive evaluation instruments posted on the HPPAE Web site that can be downloaded and used in full or in part. These include:

• Student Pre- and Post-Tests:
  These feature selected questions from the Facts on Aging Quiz, which comes from the seminal work of Erdman Palmore, a professor emeritus of medical sociology at Duke University, and is considered a gold standard for testing of general knowledge on aging (Springer Publishing Company, 1998).
  
  
• The HPPAE Geriatric Social Work Competency Scale IIStudent Self-Rating Version:
  This instrument, developed by the HPPAE, is useful for measuring student perceptions of their social work skills.
  
  
• The HPPAE Institutional Impact Survey:
  This survey can help you assess the broader changes in your school resulting from HPPAE implementation.
  
  
• Career Tracking Survey:
  This survey can be used to assess the impact of the HPPAE on career choices and employment.

• Tip: Before you finalize your evaluation instruments, think through your process for data management and analysis. This will ensure that the data you gather will be put to practical use.

IRB and Human Subject Considerations

Prior to beginning your evaluation, contact your organizations Institutional Review Board (IRB) to find out if an IRB review is required. Some IRBs have considered the HPPAE exempt because of its educational focus. Others have not. Either way, you should be sure to abide by the conventions of ethical research, including fully informing participants regarding evaluation activities. Similarly, use and reporting of evaluation data should protect the confidentiality of participants.

For more information on HPPAE evaluations, contact SWLIs evaluation lead, Linda Weiss, at: lweiss@nyam.org or swli@nyam.org.