Policy
Evaluation
Outcome
Evaluation
Impact
Evaluation
Policy
Domain
Area
Level
Setting
Policy
Action
Policy
Instruments
Indicators
Policy
Implementation
Evaluation
Implementation
Outcome
Policy
Implementation
Implementation
Process
The systematic collection or analysis of information to make judgments about contexts, activities,
characteristics, outcomes (short-term) or impact (long-term) of one or more components of the
Policy Process. Evaluation may inform or improve policy development, adoption, implementation, or
effectiveness, and may build the evidence base for policy actions/interventions.
Policy Outcomes are short-term and intermediate changes in target organisational, societal or cultural norms;
i.e. audience behaviour, awareness, attitudes, or knowledge. Desired outcomes are termed policy objectives.
Within a policy impact evaluation, evaluation principles or methods are used to examine long term changes in
key indicators that have occurred since the implementation of a policy, or the extent to which changes can be
attributed to the policy. It should apply an equity focus and should include unintended outcomes outside of
the key indicators identified.
Purposeful decisions, plans or actions made by voluntary or authoritative actors in a system
designed to create system-level change to directly or indirectly achieve specific societal goals.
Within this definition, public policy is a form of government action usually expressed in a law, a
regulation, or an order at it reflects an intent of government or its representative entities.
Components of the political system and/or settings organized around substantive issues. Policy domains
differ depending the target health goal/behaviour i.e. food or PA. The context needs to be considered
such as geographical, epidemiological, socio-cultural, socio-economic, ethical, legal, organization
or funding.
Specific content areas for policy actions within specific settings e.g. physical education, labelling.
Laws, State- District- & School-level codes or regulations, or class-level rules.
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Policy actions are defined as actual options selected by policymakers. Public policy actions are specific
actions put into place by any level of government or associated agencies to achieve the public health objective.
They may be written into broad strategies, action plans, official guidelines/notifications, calls to action,
legislation, or rules and regulations. A policy action may have its own exclusive policy document or may be part
of a larger document.
Policy Instruments Techniques or means through which public actors (e.g. national and EU government bodies,
public agencies, etc.) attempt to attain their goals. Examples of policy instruments are: fiscal policies
(taxes, subsidies), food standards, labelling regulations, education measures, etc. Different from
intervention instruments.
Indicators are specific and measurable characteristics of changes that demonstrate progress towards outcome
or impact. Indicators may be observable or not observable.
Evaluation principles and methods are used to understand how the policy was translated into operational
practice, and/or to identify the occurrence and variation of intended and unintended outcomes and impacts.
Implementation evaluation may compare and monitor different components or intensities of implementation or
can inform efforts to identify and implement policy solutions by providing information about short-term
outcomes, long-term impacts, knowledge, awareness, support, barriers and facilitators, sustainability
and other implementation outcomes.
Under implementation evaluation, implementation outcomes are the effects of deliberate or purposive
actions to implement new treatments, practices, and services.
Policy impact refers to all possible economic, social, political, technical and ecological effects at local,
regional or national level that have a direct or indirect effect on the target group or other parties.
It includes all significant longer-term effects directly or indirectly, intended or unintended, on the
ultimate stakeholders and third parties.
Implementation process is realised by means of implementation strategies or instruments. Policy implementation
process is shaped by top-down actions, involving governments (decisions & administrative practices),
non-government (corporate) power structures and/or by bottom up actions, involving stakeholders, and actors
involved in the actual policy delivery. Implementation process interacts with the characteristics of
implementation setting and/or implementation context.