Daniel T. L. Shek

Hing Keung Ma

Joav Merrick

Effectiveness of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong: Evaluation Based on Different Strategies and Different Studies over Time

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 (<svg style="vertical-align:-1.76814pt;width:80.675003px;" id="M1" height="13.0125" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 80.675003 13.0125" width="80.675003"  xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
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				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="21.71771" y="0">2</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="27.969212" y="0">0</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="34.220711" y="0">6</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="40.47221" y="0">,</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="45.685963" y="0">3</tspan>
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				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="58.188961" y="0">3</tspan>
			</text>

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</svg> program 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.

Rachel C. F. Sun

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

Interim evaluation studies were carried out in order to examine the implementation details of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in Hong Kong. Quantitative results of the interim evaluation findings based on eight datasets collected from 2006 to 2009 are reported in this paper. Three hundred and seventy-eight schools were randomly selected to provide information on the implementation details of the program via face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, and self-completed questionnaires. Results showed that a majority of the workers perceived that the students had positive responses to the program and the program was helpful to the students. In conjunction with other process evaluation findings, the present study suggests that the implementation quality of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. is high. The present study also provides support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong.

Lu Yu

Interim Evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: Findings Based on Different Datasets

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.

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

There are only a few process evaluation studies on positive youth development programs, particularly in the Chinese context. This study aims to examine the quality of implementation of a positive youth development program (the Project P.A.T.H.S.: Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) and investigate the relationships among program adherence, process factors, implementation quality, and perceived program success. Process evaluation of 97 classroom-based teaching units was conducted in 62 schools from 2005 to 2009. Findings based on different cohorts generally showed that there were high overall program adherence and implementation quality. Program adherence and implementation process were highly correlated with quality and success of the program. Multiple regression analyses further showed that both implementation process and program adherence are significant predictors of program quality and success. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Ben M. F. Law

Process Evaluation of a Positive Youth Development Program in Hong Kong Based on Different Cohorts

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 (<svg style="vertical-align:-0.10033pt;width:50.724998px;" id="M1" height="10.8125" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 50.724998 10.8125" width="50.724998"  xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
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				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="27.969212" y="0">7</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="34.220711" y="0">7</tspan>
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</svg> participants 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.

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

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) (<svg style="vertical-align:-0.17555pt;width:50.724998px;" id="M1" height="11.1" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 50.724998 11.1" width="50.724998"  xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	<g transform="matrix(1.25,0,0,-1.25,0,11.1)">
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				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="34.220711" y="0">2</tspan>
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</svg> students 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.: An Integration of Findings Based on Program Participants

This paper integrates the evaluation findings based on program implementers in nine datasets collected from 2005 to 2009 (244 schools and 7,926 implementers). Using consolidated data with schools as the unit of analysis, results showed that program implementers generally had positive perceptions of the program, themselves, and benefits of the program, with more than four-fifths of the implementers regarding the program as beneficial to the program participants. The subjective outcome evaluation instrument was found to be internally consistent. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived qualities of the program and program implementers predicted perceived effectiveness of the program. In conjunction with evaluation findings based on other sources, the present study provides support for 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.

Cecilia M. S. Ma

Program Implementers' Evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: Findings Based on Different Datasets over Time

The present study investigated the longitudinal impact of the Project PATHS, a large-scale curriculum-based positive youth development program in Hong Kong, on the development of adolescents&#x2019; risk behavior over a period of five years. Using a longitudinal randomized controlled design, eight waves of data were collected from 19 experimental schools in which students participated in the Project PATHS (<svg style="vertical-align:-1.76814pt;width:70.587502px;" id="M1" height="13.075" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 70.587502 13.075" width="70.587502"  xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
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</svg> at Wave 8) and 24 control schools without joining the Project PATHS (<svg style="vertical-align:-1.76814pt;width:70.587502px;" id="M2" height="13.0125" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 70.587502 13.0125" width="70.587502"  xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	<g transform="matrix(1.25,0,0,-1.25,0,13.0125)">
		<g transform="translate(72,-61.59)">
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				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="26.143772" y="0">3</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="32.395271" y="0">,</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="37.609024" y="0">6</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="43.860523" y="0">4</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="50.112022" y="0">0</tspan>
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</svg> at Wave 8). At each wave, students responded to measures assessing their current risk behaviors, including delinquency, use of different types of drug, and their intentions of participating in risk behaviors in the future. Results demonstrated that adolescents receiving the program exhibited significantly slower increases in delinquent behaviors and substance use as compared to the control participants. During two years after the completion of the program, differences in youth risk behaviors in the two groups still existed. These results suggest that the Project PATHS has long-term effect in preventing adolescent problem behavior through promoting positive youth development.

Longitudinal Impact of the Project PATHS on Adolescent Risk Behavior: What Happened after Five Years?

To assess the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S., a randomized group trial with eight waves of data collected was carried out. At the fifth year of data collection, 19 experimental schools (<svg style="vertical-align:-0.10033pt;width:35.099998px;" id="M1" height="10.8125" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 35.099998 10.8125" width="35.099998" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g transform="matrix(1.25,0,0,-1.25,0,10.8125)"><g transform="translate(72,-63.35)"><text transform="matrix(1,0,0,-1,-71.95,63.5)"><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="0" y="0">𝑛</tspan><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="9.6773224" y="0">=</tspan><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="21.71771" y="0">2</tspan></text></g></g></svg>, 662 students) and 24 control schools (<svg style="vertical-align:-0.17555pt;width:35.099998px;" id="M2" height="10.9125" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 35.099998 10.9125" width="35.099998" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g transform="matrix(1.25,0,0,-1.25,0,10.9125)"><g transform="translate(72,-63.27)"><text transform="matrix(1,0,0,-1,-71.95,63.5)"><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="0" y="0">𝑛</tspan><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="9.6773224" y="0">=</tspan><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="21.71771" y="0">3</tspan></text></g></g></svg>, 272 students) participated in the study. Analyses based on individual growth curve modeling showed that participants in the experimental schools displayed better positive youth development than did participants in the control schools in terms of different indicators derived from the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale, including moral competence and behavioral competence and cognitive behavioral competencies. Significant results were also found when examining the trajectories of psychological development among control and experimental participants who perceived the program to be beneficial. Findings based on longitudinal objective outcome evaluation strongly suggest that the Project P.A.T.H.S. is effective in promoting positive development in Hong Kong secondary school students.

Impact of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in the Junior Secondary School Years: Objective Outcome Evaluation Based on Eight Waves of Longitudinal Data

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