Validation of a Subjective outcome evaluation tool for participants in a positive youth development program in Hong Kong

Study Objectives: Using confirmatory factor analyses, this study examined the factor structure and reliability of a subjective outcome evaluation tool for students with greater psychosocial needs within the context of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong. Design: To assess the views of program participants on the program content, implementer qualities, and program effectiveness of the Tier 2 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S., the Subjective Outcome Evaluation Form for Participants (Form C) was used. Data were collected from 8,893 Grade 7 participants after they had completed the Tier 2 Program. Results: The findings based on confirmatory factor analyses are generally consistent with the original hypotheses, providing support for the 3-factor model and the higher-order factor model containing 3 primary factors. Support for different types of factorial invariance based on 2 randomly split subsamples was also found. High coefficient alphas were found for the total scale and the 3 subscales. Conclusion: Confirmatory factor analyses support the conceptual model underlying the Form C. Reliability analyses showed that the total scale and subscales possess excellent internal consistency.