How would you assess program reach and fidelity?

How would you assess program reach and fidelity?

• A. Reach equals budget; fidelity equals time to implement.
• B. Reach measures the proportion of the target population engaged; fidelity assesses how closely implementation matches the plan.
• C. Reach is only for outreach; fidelity is about funding.
• D. Reach and fidelity are the same.

Answer: (B)

Measuring reach and fidelity means distinguishing two ways to judge program implementation: who gets exposed to the program and how closely the delivery follows the plan. Reach is the proportion of the target population that participates or is exposed. Fidelity is the degree to which the implementation follows the planned protocol, including core activities, materials, and delivery schedule. This framing directly reflects how you assess both how widely the program is seen or used and how faithfully it is executed. For example, if 150 of 500 eligible individuals participate, reach is 30%. If the facilitators deliver all prescribed activities, use the manual, and maintain the required session length, fidelity is high. The other statements mix up these concepts—reach isn’t simply budget, fidelity isn’t about funding or time alone, reach isn’t restricted to outreach, and the two are not the same.

Measuring reach and fidelity means distinguishing two ways to judge program implementation: who gets exposed to the program and how closely the delivery follows the plan. Reach is the proportion of the target population that participates or is exposed. Fidelity is the degree to which the implementation follows the planned protocol, including core activities, materials, and delivery schedule. This framing directly reflects how you assess both how widely the program is seen or used and how faithfully it is executed.

For example, if 150 of 500 eligible individuals participate, reach is 30%. If the facilitators deliver all prescribed activities, use the manual, and maintain the required session length, fidelity is high. The other statements mix up these concepts—reach isn’t simply budget, fidelity isn’t about funding or time alone, reach isn’t restricted to outreach, and the two are not the same.