Evaluation based on the perspective of the program participants

Subjective outcome evaluation data were collected from 236 schools (N = 87,943 students) after students had participated in the Tier 1 Program in the second year of the Extension Phase of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong. Using schools as the units of analysis, results showed that the program and implementers were perceived in a positive manner and roughly four-fifths of the participants regarded the program as helpful to them. There were some significant grade differences in the subjective outcome evaluation findings with small effect size. Multiple regression analyses showed that while perceived qualities of the program positively predicted perceived effectiveness of the program, perceived qualities of implementers negatively predicted program effectiveness. The present study suggests that irrespective of cohorts at different time, junior secondary school students perceived the program to be beneficial to them. The theoretical and practical implications of the present findings are discussed.