2.0 Methodology of Evaluation

This section will outline the specific terms of reference for the evaluation. It is intended to set the parameters of the expectations of the findings of this report.

2.1 Areas of Research

Impact Areas

Individuals – What were the changes in skill levels (both academic and workplace skills)?; Did this process move people from transfer dependency to employment income in each of the five zones?; What other impact(s) did this concept have on the individual?

Community – Were the individuals more able to participate in/contribute to the development of their communities/zone?; Was the economic zone process (for example: Zonal Strategic Plans in each of the five partnering zones) supported?; Was out migration reduced?

Economy – Did the training participants receive sustainable employment with the partnering employment partners in each of the four zones?; Was there business development through productivity, or in other ways with each of the employment partners?

Integration Process

Partnership Support – Who were the key partners in each of the four zonal regions?; What did they contribute?; How did this partnership work?

Cost–Effectiveness – What were the resulting savings to both orders of government by moving people from transfer dependency to employment income?; How does the Bridging the Gap model concept compare with other types of non–integrated support programs?

Other Evaluation Questions

What are the pre and post levels of academic and specific workplace skill sets of the training participants? (Tools to be used include academic measurement tools from the College of the North Atlantic and the Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) to measure the changes in workplace basic and essential skills.) Note: The College of the North Atlantic will be working with the Evaluation Team to conduct the pre and post academic assessments, as well as, the aptitude and interest assessments on the training participants.

Has there been attitudinal shifts/changes in the self–confidence of the training participants? Conduct pre and post measurements of these changes on each of the training participants before and after the training intervention. It is also important to evaluate the social impacts this concept can have on individuals and communities.

What are the perceived benefits by participating in the Bridging the Gap model from the points of view of the training participants, employers, union if applicable, post–secondary training institutions, economic zone boards/rural development groups, and local government departments?