Meta-Analysis of the KAP Study Evaluation Method in Environmental Projects

Meta-Analysis of the KAP Study Evaluation Method in Environmental Projects

2012

The evaluation of water quality projects can be a challenge because of the complexity of both biophysical and socioeconomic impacts. Despite significant investments of public funding in water quality projects in the U.S., few are ever evaluated, and the socio-economic dimensions tend to be overlooked. In Minnesota, 88% of projects are never evaluated, and impacts on local populations are unknown. We tested the knowledge-attitudes-practices (KAP) study evaluation method on twenty diverse projects in Minnesota. The KAP method is often used in international health and sanitation projects but is not well known in the United States. KAP studies are highly focused social surveys that provide pre/post project data for both planning and evaluation purposes. We assessed the KAP method for ease of use, utility and application of study data. We conclude that it has merit and value for natural resources professionals, and can provide evidence of project impacts and outcomes.

Eckman, Karlyn
Nuckles, Kimberly
Kolze, Lynne
Were, Valerie

U of M Water Resources Center
MPCA
MPCA
UM Water Resources Center

American Evaluation Association

Water Restoration & Protection

knowledge-attitudes-practices
KAP
knowledge-attitudes-practice
knowledge, attitudes, and practices
water quality
water qualities
water-quality
water-qualities
evaluate
evaluates
evaluating
evaluation
evaluated
water education, outreach, & community capacity

2010-2019

No

Public Domain

Minnesota Water Research Digital Library