Title: Applying the chronicle workshop as a method for evaluating participatory interventions

Authors: Signe Poulsen; Christine Ipsen; Liv Gish

Addresses: Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet, Building 424, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark ' Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet, Building 424, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark ' Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet, Building 424, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

Abstract: Despite the growing interest for process evaluation in participatory interventions, studies examining specific methods for process evaluation are lacking. In this paper, we propose a new method for process evaluation - the chronicle workshop. The chronicle workshop has not previously been used in intervention studies. The method was tested in three small and medium-sized companies. Four to six employees participated in each chronicle workshop, which was the last activity of the participatory preventive intervention program PoWRS. The program aims at creating changes which have a positive effect on both productivity and well-being. In all cases, we saw that the chronicle workshop gave valuable information about the intervention process and that it initiated a joint reflection among participants from different departments. The chronicle workshop makes it possible to better understand the results of the intervention, the factors affecting it, and the outcome evaluation based on a summary view of the company and intervention-related factors that influence the intervention program and results.

Keywords: participatory interventions; process evaluation; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; chronicle workshop; productivity; well-being.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2015.073002

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2015 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.271 - 290

Received: 22 Dec 2014
Accepted: 19 Jun 2015
Published online: 11 Nov 2015 *

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