Final answer:
The perspective of a prevention effectiveness study is the viewpoint from which the costs and benefits of preventive measures are assessed, to determine the most cost-effective approach in contexts such as criminal justice and health care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The perspective of a prevention effectiveness study refers to b) The viewpoint from which costs and benefits are assessed. This involves evaluating various approaches to prevent outcomes like crime or poor health by measuring and analyzing the cost-effectiveness of interventions. For instance, in the context of criminal justice, significant effort is directed towards understanding how policies can deter crime by increasing the costs of criminal activity, taking into consideration factors such as legal penalties and alternative opportunities such as labor market improvements. Similarly, with regard to health care, analyzing the effects of personal lifestyle choices against health care expenditures is crucial to discern their respective impacts on health outcomes like life expectancy.
Ultimately, such studies aim to determine the most cost-effective approach, whether it's through preventive actions like improving early childhood experiences or direct interventions like incarceration or rehabilitation. By analyzing the relative costs and benefits of these methods, policymakers can make informed decisions about how to allocate resources to achieve the best outcomes for society.