Conducting an Outcome Evaluation

All programs aim to make a difference. An outcome evaluation can measure that difference by determining the impact of a program on its participants, the community, or even the provider.

This brief outlines the components of a typical outcome evaluation, including—

• Developing a theory of change that describes how program outcomes are achieved
• Developing a logic model that depicts pathways of change, linking activities to outcomes
• Designing a rigorous but feasible evaluation plan
• Implementing the evaluation plan
• Analyzing and interpreting the data
• Reporting and disseminating the findings