Final answer:
Developing realistic evaluation methods for assessing sleep loss in new parents involves using self-reporting tools and objective tools like actigraphy. Evaluation criteria should focus on specific aspects of sleep quality and quantity, with improvements post-intervention as the benchmark.
Step-by-step explanation:
To evaluate the improvement or deterioration of an individual's sleep patterns after the birth of a newborn, realistic evaluation methods and criteria need to be established. This can include self-reporting tools such as sleep diaries, questionnaires, and likert scales that reflect the person's perception of their sleep quality and quantity. Moreover, objective tools like actigraphy or home sleep study can provide quantitative data on sleep patterns. These evaluation methods should be tailored to the specific aspects you wish to assess - it could be sleep duration, interruptions, time taken to fall asleep, etc. The criteria for demonstrating effectiveness can be based on improvements in these specific sleep parameters post-intervention, controlling for external factors as much as possible.