Table 3. Overview of New York City Child Care Evaluation Data Collection Instruments and Resources.
| Instrument/Data Source | Purpose/Content/Strengths and Weakness of Data Source | Unit of Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Center Evaluation Component | ||
| DOHMH administrative data | Primarily used for sampling stratification (center address and location relative to DPHO catchment areas), and indicators of center participation in DOHMH training programs. Low data collection cost and burden. | Center |
| DOHMH staff interviews | Provide context for the setting in which the beverage and physical activity regulations are implemented by interviewing staff responsible for providing child care center training and/or enforcing regulations. Low data collection cost and burden. | Context |
| Director, teacher and food service staff interviews | Respondents’ knowledge of and reported compliance with New York City’s regulations for beverages, physical activity, and screen time at child care centers. Moderate data collection cost and burden on center staff and time required. | Center |
| Site inventory | Beverages present in the child care center food storage and preparation areas and the centers’ physical activity environment. Low data collection cost and burden. | Center |
| Classroom Evaluation Component | ||
| Child information form | Director reported child birth dates, sex, race/ethnicity, start date in the center, and number of days per week and number of hours per day attending the day care. Moderate data collection cost and burden on center staff and time required. | Center |
| General observation form | Episodes, context, and environment of physical activity in selected classroom. High data collection cost and time required. | Classroom |
| Child accelerometry form | Height and weight and accelerometer start and stop times for children in selected classroom. High data collection cost and time required. | Child |
| Nutrition observation form | Components of every meal and snack provided to children in selected classroom. High data collection cost and time required. | Classroom |
| Mealtime observation form | Quantity of meal and snack items served to and consumed by observed children in selected classroom. High data collection cost and time required. | Child |
Abbreviations: DOHMH, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; DPHO, District Public Health Office.