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V.  Evaluating Your Program Using the Logic Model

C. Evaluating Program Activities & Outputs

Usually, it is easier to collect information about program activities and outputs than about program outcomes and impacts. This information allows you to describe the activities your program actually implements, the number of participants in your programs, and so forth. Often, this kind of information is required by program funders. Before collecting additional information about program implementation, you should review your reporting requirements. Any tools that you develop to collect program implementation data should try to capture all the information you need in one place, to help make reporting easier.

1. Methods and Data Sources. There are many possible sources of information that might be used to evaluate program activities and outputs, including the following:

• Observations
• Program Records Review:
  • Attendance sheets
  • Staff logs
  • Event logs
• CSAP's Minimum Data Set. Many ATOD prevention programs are using reporting tools designed by CSAP and other major funders. One of these is the "Minimum Data Set," or MDS.

2. Measures (if available)

• A worksheet for evaluating program activities
  [Worksheet for evaluating program activities and outputs]

3. Examples of data sources for evaluating activities based on hypothetical logic models.

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