Enhancing Precision in Extension Program Outcome Measurement: Applications of Rasch Analysis to the Validation of the Healthy Choices for Your Recovering Body (HCYRB) Questionnaire

Extension nutrition education programs play vital roles in providing evidence-based research information to support individuals in substance use recovery (SUR). However, evaluating the impact of Extension SUR programs faces several challenges including limited use of reliable program evaluation tools with psychometric validation. Rasch analysis advances measurement by converting ordinal survey responses into interval-level measures, thereby ensuring that surveys and measurement tools provide objective insights for evaluating interventions. Using the Healthy Choices for Your Recovering Body (HCYRB) curriculum as an example, this presentation will illustrate the application of Rasch analysis to the validation of evaluation tools for SUR and other Extension programs. This presentation will outline the Rasch approach, key findings from its application to the validation of the HCYRB tool, and implications for Extension evaluation practice. Attendees will gain insight on how to leverage this modeling to strengthen the validity and usability of their Extension evaluation data collection instruments.

Omolola Adedokun, PhD – Assistant Professor, Extension, Program Development and Evaluation, Community and Leadership Development, University of Kentucky