6. How “in theory” can we measure outcomes in family support?

There is a difference between measuring outcomes in family support “in theory” and “in practice”.

It is useful to ask the question: How could we measure outcomes in family support “in theory” if adequate resources were given to the task and the practice paradoxes and dilemmas were not there to complicate the task.

The answer can provide a starting point for thinking about measuring outcomes in family support.

“In theory” we can measure outcomes in family support by describing:

The outcomes we are trying to achieve
The extent to which we are achieving these outcomes.

To do this we would:

A. Agree on the specific outcomes to be achieved. For example are outcomes improved self esteem, improved family and friends networks, better parenting practices?

B. Develop valid and reliable measurement tools for these outcomes, eg, for self-esteem, family and friends networks and parenting practices. (Valid meaning that the measurement tool measures what it says it measures and reliable meaning that if we made the same measurement twice we get the same result.)

C. Use the tools to measure change in clients over time (including collecting and analysing the data). For example by measuring the clients situation at the beginning of service, at the end of service and at a point in time after the completion of service and analysing the results.

D. Showing a cause and effect connection between the service provision and the outcomes. This could be done in one or more of several ways, for example:

Research design such as random assignment of clients to different types of service provision

Connecting research findings with practice measures. For example in measuring health outcomes we can monitor the number of people who are smoking or non smoking because there is separate research to show the connections between smoking and health outcomes. If there were adequate research into family support outcomes we could connect our service measures with the findings of that research.