Developing a Logic Model

This brief offers nine reasons to develop a logic model.

1. To provide a roadmap of key program activities and expected outcomes
2. To ensure a clear understanding of program goals and measures of success
3. To explain why data are being collected and how they will be used
4. To build consensus among stakeholders on program goals and outcomes and the feasibility of measuring change in outcomes
5. To provide a concise visual summary of the program
6. To identify gaps and inconsistencies between program activities and expected outcomes and to assess the feasibility of measuring outcomes
7. To serve as a reference point for determining whether proposed program modifications will affect core program elements or outcomes
8. To serve as a program monitoring tool by identifying identify key questions and answers about implementation, data collection, outputs, and outcomes
9. To facilitate comparisons across programs by identifying common outcomes of interest, indicators, measurement tools, and data sources

The brief also outlines the components of a logic model and data collection plan and provides examples.