Overview

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of the nutrition interventions in an elementary school so that school environments and policies can be optimally designed to support healthy food choices.  Students will work with Seattle Public Schools’ nutritionists to organize, conduct and analyze lunchroom observations, student surveys and key informant interviews of parents and school staff in two Seattle elementary schools.  One school has additional resources through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Eating by Design (HEBD) initiative, and the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.   The HEBD project at the school is called "Eat Better, Feel Better." The other school does not have these additional resources and will serve as a "control" or comparison school.

Students will develop a report, briefing paper and abstract that will be presented and disseminated to state and local school nutrition administrators.   The project will be divided into "deliverables."   Students will work on these deliverables in teams.

Study Tools

• Interview Questions for Teachers, Staff and Administrators
• Interview Questions for Parents
• Lunchroom Observation Form (Revised 5/04)
• Student Survey
• Lunchroom Observation Protocol

Deliverables

Phase One

Background Briefing Paper

Analysis Plan (May 4)

Lunchroom Observations
Lunchroom Observation Powerpoint
Completion of the Lunchroom Observation Forms
 

 

Key Informant Interviews
Template/Script for Interviews with Teachers/Staff/Administrators
Template/Script for Interviews with Parents/Guardians
Interview Scheduling Chart
Key Informant Interview Presentation (PPT for 4/21 Class Training)
Hard Copies of the Following Materials Distributed in Class:
Key Informant Interview Handbook
Questions Frequently Asked By Respondents Insert
Proposal for Distribution of Tasks & /Timeline

 

Briefing Paper

Detailed Report

Presentation Slides (ppt)

Phase One Deliverables due April 21

Team A - The Background

1. Prepare a well referenced  briefing paper that outlines the current state of knowledge about the food environment in schools and homes, policies that impact these food environments and interventions that seek to improve these environments. This paper will be based on a search of medical and social work publications databases, the "grey" literature of web sites and publications sponsored by the government and non-profit organizations.  

2. Prepare a 30 minute presentation for classmates and other stakeholders.

Team B - Organizing and Analyzing Lunchroom Observations

1. Using key references on observational techniques to assess dietary intake, develop an observation protocol to assess dietary intake in the school lunchrooms.

2. Develop a plan for recording, compiling and analyzing student survey data and lunchroom observation data from the two schools.

3. Prepare a 40 -50  minute, hands-on  training and observation practice session for your classmates.

Team C - Conducting, Compiling, and Analyzing Key Informant Interviews

1. Prepare a basic key informant interview procedure manual (that includes importance of confidentiality and Human Subjects issues and a brief discussion of the uses and quality of qualitative data)  for your classmates.    There are several good resources on the Web.  You might want to start with a good general overview, Conducting Key Informant Interviews  and progress to more details with The Survey Kit,  

2. Develop a plan for compiling and analyzing the results of the interviews. 

3. Develop a plan for distributing incentives to parents who complete the interviews.

4. Conduct a pilot of the interview guide and procedures with at least 5 respondents, including parents of grade school children, teachers and school administrators.

5. Prepare a 40-50 minute basic hands-on raining on organizing and conducting key informant interviews for your classmates. 

Phase Two Deliverables Due June 6

1. Detailed Report

• Brief  description of the two schools, HEBD, the USDA fresh fruit and vegetable program
• Logic model for the interventions at the intervention school
• Summary of lunchroom observation, student survey and key informant interview methodology
• Description and analysis of lunchroom observation, student survey and key informant interview results - use tables, bar charts, etc.
• Discussion of key findings from the evaluation
• Recommendations for (1) next steps at the intervention school and (2) applications to a wider set of policy and environmental interventions
• Communication plan for distributing results of this evaluation

2. Brief Policy Document

About 3 pages that can easily be scanned by policy makers in less than 5 minutes.  Key results and recommendations should stand out.  Data should appear in tables or charts.  The document should include a concise summary, bullets and plenty of white space.  

3. A PowerPoint presentation that highlights results of the evaluation and recommendations for next steps.

4. A 45 minute presentation to Stakeholders for June 6

Schedule

Evaluation

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