Was the program successful in achieving the desired results?
This is your chance to see if the program you implemented, met the desired goals you set forth. Now ask yourself, how well is the program working? And what can I do to continuously improve it? Look for changes in knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors of participants as a way to measure the success of your program.
What if I am already implementing a program?
If you are looking to improve or expand an existing program, you should identify what will be measured, develop evaluation methods, cultivate a plan to put these methods into place, and choose the evaluation design. Lastly, you should analyze your data, interpret your findings, and report your results. (See also: Framework: Overview of 10 Steps)
Benefits of Outcome Evaluation
An outcome evaluation can provide evidence that your program caused changes in knowledge, skills, and behaviors of the participants.
Tasks for Outcome Evaluation
- Develop an outcome evaluation plan.
- Identify what will be measured.
- Identify how to measure your desired outcome.
- Choose the design of the evaluation.
- Develop the methods to be used.
- Develop and finalize a plan to put those methods into place.
- Conduct the outcome evaluation.
- Analyze the data, interpret the findings, and report your results.
- Implement the outcome evaluation plan.
- Analyze, interpret, and report your results.
What If I’m Not Ready for This Step?
Healthy Teen Network Resources
- Capacity-Building Assistance, Training, TA, and Other Services
- Youth 360° Resource Center
- Evidence-Based Resource Center
- Framework: Overview of 10 Steps
- What’s In Your Toolbox? GTO Webinar Series
- Stay on Track Using Getting to Outcomes (elearning module)
- Tip Sheet: Best Practices for Community Engagement
- Tip Sheet: Built to Last: Planning Programmatic Sustainability
- Making Your Logic Model Work for You
- A BDI Logic Model for Working with Young Families: Resource Kit
- Supporting Evaluation: Evaluating the Implementation of Sex Education in Schools
- Improving Outcomes for Pregnant and Parenting Teens: An Environmental Scan of Services and Programs
- American Statistical Association, What is a Survey?
- American Evaluation Association
- Building Capacity in Evaluating Outcomes
- CDC, A Framework for Program Evaluation
- ETR, RECAPP: Program Evaluation Basics
- Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender & Reproduction. Measurement, & Assessment Bibliography
- Philliber Research Associates
- Research Methods Knowledge Base
- Little PSBA-GTO