From Problem to Proof: Building Effective Prevention Programs

Professor Peterson’s Psychology Classroom · Oct 9, 2026 · 41m · transcript

Dr. Curtis Peterson explains how to build prevention programs that make measurable human impact. The episode introduces the Evaluative Thinker’s Playbook — four interactive processes (grounding, gathering, guarding, guiding) — and shows how to turn real-world problems into systematic, operationalized interventions using ecological examples like substance abuse and campus violence prevention.

Through practical examples, the episode emphasizes designing accessible programs, operationalizing outcomes, protecting participants, and interpreting results without overclaiming.