Evaluation Design
Evaluation design is the structure that allows you to collect and analyze the data needed to answer your evaluation questions. It is important that the evaluation design align with your logic model, goals, research questions, available resources, and (funder) requirements.
Outcome Evaluation
What is it? As the name implies, outcome evaluation is evaluating the extent to which your program met its stated program goal. Because outcome evaluation is oriented to the long-term outcome or long-term change that results from your program, evaluation usually does not occur until 6 months or 1 year after implementation. In order to determine change, a comparison or control group is required – thus, outcome evaluation often involves experimental or quasi-experimental designs, which include collecting and analyzing quantitative data.
We can assist you in identifying an appropriate outcome design to determine your overall program’s success.
How can we help you?
- Identify comparison or control groups needed to evaluate long-term change in your program
- Determine which data and analysis approaches are needed to evaluate long-term change
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Learn MoreEvaluation Logic Models
A logic model is a one-page, compelling graphic (your road map) that tells the reader/reviewer exactly what, when, where, why, and how.
Learn MoreArticles and White Papers About Outcome Evaluation
Principles for Selecting the Right Outcome Indicators
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Do Results Matter to Charity Navigator? Factoring in Research and Results into Charity Ratings
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Read MoreFAQ About Outcome Evaluation
This depends on the type of data you have and your target audience, but there are many options when it comes to data visualization. A few examples include Tableau, SAS, and Nvivo.
The major advantages of longitudinal analysis are that you can assess change or show clear patterns, as there are multiple time points of data collection. The major disadvantages are that this type of study takes longer to do, is more expensive, and is more limited in terms of breadth of experience.
Semi-structured interviewing is the most common type, which includes an interview guide with pre-determined open-ended questions, but also the flexibility of allowing spontaenuous follow-up questions and probing to yield in-depth data.
There are many things to keep in mind when creating an evaluation plan, but some considerations are the program/project goals, the evaluation questions that need to be answered, who the key stakeholders are, program/project activities, outputs, outcomes, and any challenges or other factors that may affect the program.
Generally speaking, outcome evaluation can begin to measure changes at least six months after program implementation.
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Peggy Ostrander, DNPc, APRN, FNP-C Plano, Texas