What does "program fidelity" refer to in evaluations?

"Program fidelity" refers specifically to the degree to which a program adheres to its planned guidelines or protocol during implementation. This concept is crucial in evaluations as it ensures that the program is executed as intended, which can significantly impact its effectiveness and outcomes.

When a program is implemented with high fidelity, it means that the components, practices, and procedures are followed as designed. This adherence allows evaluators to attribute any observed effects or outcomes more confidently to the program itself, rather than variations in implementation. In essence, evaluating program fidelity helps in understanding whether the program was delivered as intended, which is vital for assessing its true impact.

The other options do not accurately capture the meaning of program fidelity. The success rate of a program pertains to its outcomes rather than the adherence to guidelines, the number of participants addresses the scale of the program rather than its execution, and the duration of program implementation relates to how long a program has run rather than how closely it follows its predefined framework. These aspects are important in evaluations, but they do not define program fidelity itself.