Applying Policy Evaluation Results
T21 policy evaluation results can be useful for stakeholders at multiple levels. Evaluation results can be used to inform ongoing national, state, and local implementation and enforcement, assess the level of public awareness and support for the policy, and provide meaningful indicators of success for stakeholders and the public.
Some examples of how evaluation findings can be used by various audiences, are highlighted below (Table 3).
| Evaluation Findings | Type of Information to be Disseminated |
|---|---|
| Content/implementation evaluation results | Potential enforcement gaps to inform policy/enforcement modifications |
| Impact evaluation results | Policy outcomes and the effect on the population, including intended and unintended effects |
| Lessons Learned | Recommendations for future T21 and other retail policy implementation and evaluation |
Evaluators should consider tailoring communication of evaluation findings to the needs and interests of different stakeholders, while packaging the evaluation results in a manner that is appropriate for the type of stakeholder. For example, a report describing policy impact may be of interest to T21 implementers, enforcement agencies, and policy and evaluation experts. Scientific manuscripts detailing the methods to evaluate the policy and the findings may be of greater interest to policy and subject matter experts. Similarly, “lessons learned” reports and straightforward documents or publications describing recommendations for implementation may be a better fit for staff members in jurisdictions that exhibit problems with effective implementation of the T21 law.
