Reducing Adolescent Sexual Risk: A Theoretical - ETR Associates

assessing logic models. Logic models are describedmuch more fully in Kirby (2004). An on-linecourse on these models also is available free ofcharge at: http://www.etr.org/recapp/documents/logicmodelcourse/index.htm. Intervention Mapping(Bartholomew, Parcel et al. 2006) describes morecomprehensive approaches that involve logic modelsand that are effective.A Detailed Example ofa Logic ModelFigure 2-3 provides a very detailed example of alogic model that incorporates activities from curriculathat have been effective at improving sexualpsychosocial factors and behavior. The figure illustrateshow to read a logic model and how a givencurriculum would reduce sexual risk behaviors. Italso provides a frame of reference for the remainderof this book. Indeed, Chapters 3 to 9 focus onthe risk and protective factors that are in this logicBox2-1 Tips for Developing Logic Models• Choose your target. Remember that logic models aregraphic depictions that show clearly and concisely thecausal steps through which specific interventions canaffect behavior and thereby achieve a health goal.They can be applied to any health goal or to any goalthat is affected by the behavior of individuals or thepolicies and programs of organizations.• Be comprehensive. Consider all reasonable possibilitiesat each stage, all health goals of interest, all behaviorsaffecting a selected health goal, all factors affectingeach behavior, and all activities or interventions thatmay affect each factor.• Be thorough. Consider both positive and negativebehaviors and both risk and protective factors thataffect those behaviors.• Be strategic. Focus on the goals, behaviors, risk andprotective factors, and intervention strategies that aremost important and that you can change; the mostimportant health goal in the community that yourorganization wishes to achieve (and can), the mostimportant behaviors that have the greatest impact onthat health goal and that you can change, the mostimportant factors that affect each behavior and thatyou can change, and the activities or interventionsthat most strongly affect each factor and that you canimplement.• Be realistic. Assess the impact of each activity or interventionon each factor, the impact of each factor oneach behavior and the impact of each behavior on thehealth goal. Select only those that have the greatestimpact.• Consider the evidence. Review research when assessingwhich activities, risk and protective factors andbehaviors are most important in addressing a healthgoal.• Be very specific. For example, when choosing a healthgoal, specify the particular health outcome and thepopulation to be targeted (e.g., a particular agegroup in a particular geographic area). When choosingbehaviors, identify the specific behavior, not abroader behavior. (For example, do not specify “reducingunprotected sex” as a behavior. Instead, break itdown into abstaining, using condoms, having mutuallymonogamous partners, using contraception, etc.)When choosing activities, describe them sufficiently sothat readers can understand how they will affect theirtargeted factors.• Call for back-up. Identify multiple activities to changeeach important risk or protective factor. (Create amatrix to help with this as described in Chapter 10.)• Know your target. Complete all of these activities witha thorough knowledge of the particular population ofyoung people, their community, their culture and theircharacteristics always in mind.• Widen your perspective. Involve multiple people inthe development of your logic model. Include peoplewith different areas of expertise, such as knowledgeabout adolescent sexual behavior, psychosocialtheories of behavior change, factors affecting sexualbehavior, effective instructional strategies, youth culture,community values and research on sex educationprograms.• Use the logic model as a tool. Use your logic modelnot only to develop an effective program, but toexplain it to other stakeholders and to train staff whoimplement it.• Monitor progress. Over time, conduct evaluations toassess your logic model and program, using the datato update and improve them.Chapter 2 Creating a Logic Model and Learning Objectives 11