Thomas, DavidDehar, Mary-Anne Bailey2026-08-062026-08-061992https://hdl.handle.net/10289/18513A formative evaluation approach was applied over a 21 month period to Heartbeat New Zealand, an emergent heart disease prevention and health promotion programme. The aim of the research was to constructively influence the development of Heartbeat by providing ongoing evaluation input to the programme. Formative evaluation input involved two major aspects, of information collection and feedback, and consultation. Major data sources were interviews and questionnaires, direct participation and observation, and programme documents. It was found that while formative evaluation was only one source of influence upon the development of the Heartbeat programme, and formative evaluation findings and recommendations were not always accepted or fully implemented by programme personnel, positive outcomes of the formative evaluation input were apparent. In the Heartbeat Awards project, formative evaluation helped answer questions concerning the feasibility, appropriateness and effectiveness of an intervention aimed at creating and supporting behaviour change by altering environmental influences upon health. Formative evaluation of the Heartbeat Community Project identified the need for, and facilitated, the reorientation of the project from a traditional health educative approach to reflect more innovative health promotion strategies. Formative evaluation led to the development of a framework for later outcome evaluation of the overall Heartbeat programme which was tailored to the activities, characteristics and context of the programme. Formative evaluation activities identified problems in overall programme functioning in terms of programme management, planning and coordination, and communication, and action in these areas was recommended. The research both confirmed key points about formative evaluation identified in the evaluation literature, and highlighted further issues relating to the particular approach adopted in the Heartbeat programme. Major implications identified for future programmes were the importance of early and ongoing strategic planning and the importance of programme decision-makers adopting a model of information-based decision-making.enAll items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.Thesis