Assessing Curriculum Implementation: A Process for Identifying Salient Variables

The focus of this study was a process for selecting variables for assessing curriculum implementation. Three sets of variables, program characteristics, curriculum content, and curriculum emphasis, were measured to determine the degree to which program goals were implemented in 18 continuing education pediatric nurse practitioner programs. Program directors (19) responded to a questionnaire on the three sets of variables. Results from one‐way analysis of variance (α = .05) and omega squared (ø2) were used to identify variables from each of the three sets most likely to account for differences in curriculum implementation among the programs. Three of 11 program characteristics, 5 of 14 content domains, and 3 of 6 emphasis parameters were identified as salient variables for assessing student achievement and long‐term curriculum outcomes.