An evidence based approach to evaluation

A case study of the Positive Partnerships web space

Abstract

The Positive Partnerships is an Australian Government initiative that is designed to provide information and professional development for Australian parents, carers and school staff working with school aged students with autism, using a combination of face to face and online delivery. This paper investigates first, how the website can present research-based interventions in a field marked by "bad science, risky medicine and the search for a cure" (Offit, 2008). Second, the paper offers suggestions for website evaluation. Maintaining a clear focus on the purpose of the site, and judiciously selecting among readily available online evaluation tools, are central to success. Triangulation, representativeness, independence and other key safeguards can also shore up the validity of website appraisals. The paper concludes by describing nine different complementary ways that the Positive Partnerships website has been evaluated, and briefly sketches a sample of the findings. Suggestions for future research are provided.