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Evaluation of the Kitchen Garden Program
An evaluation of the Kitchen Garden Program is currently being undertaken by a joint research team from the Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing & Behavioural Sciences at Deakin University and The McCaughey Centre: Vichealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, University of Melbourne and will be completed in 2009.
The research team
Dr Lisa Gibbs – The McCaughey Centre, University of Melbourne (formerly of Deakin University)
Associate Professor Mardie Townsend – School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University
Dr Petra Staiger – School of Psychology, Deakin University
Susie Macfarlane – School of Psychology, Deakin University
Karen Block – Research Assistant, University of Melbourne
The methodology used to evaluate the Kitchen Garden Program consists of a longitudinal design utilising a mixed methods approach. A combination of qualitative and quantitative data is being collected from six participating schools and six comparison schools over a two and a half year period, to assess change over time. This will measure process, impact and outcome indicators to assess the feasibility of the program, how the program is experienced by participants, whether changes have occurred and thus whether the aims have been achieved.
This evaluation will be conducted in two phases
Phase 1 – Descriptive: Includes the literature review and collection of baseline quantitative and process data. This will provide a summary of existing research relating to school-based kitchen gardens. It will also provide preintervention descriptive information about the school environments and programs, and the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of the children and parents in the intervention schools.
Phase 2 – Conceptual: Includes collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative process and impact data. The impact and success of the project will be evaluated in terms of teacher, child and parent knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, and environmental change. A theoretical analysis of the qualitative data will provide a richer understanding of the experience of the program within the school and home environment. The understanding of program challenges and enablers will inform future directions for the program model.
Funding partners
The evaluation funding partners include Deakin University, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Victoria), VicHealth and the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.
Attached file Kitchen Garden Program Evaluation - Presentation by Dr Lisa Gibbs (3.11Mb)
Attached file Executive Summary of Evaluation Progress Report (85.90Kb)
