Now that you have selected one measurable outcome from your logic model (Week 2), this week we will determine how the evaluation will be conducted and who will be included in it.
For this discussion, address the following:
1. Outcome Being Evaluated
State one short-term or intermediate outcome from your logic model.
Restate it clearly as an outcome, not an activity or goal.
2. Evaluation Design
What would be the best design to evaluate the outcome at your agency? Most program evaluations use a self-controlled pre/post design (comparing each participant’s outcome measure at intake and again at post-treatment or discharge), but you should confirm whether this design fits your program.
- Explain why the design you chose is feasible in your agency.
- Do not create a new control group or add groups that do not exist in practice.
3. Limitations of the Design
Briefly discuss one limitation of using this design.
Choose only one that realistically applies to your setting, such as:
- Maturation
- Regression to the mean
- History effects
- Selection bias
Explain why the chosen limitation matters for your outcome, in everyday language.
4. Sampling Strategy
Describe who will be included in the evaluation.
Explain why this sampling approach is appropriate for your program.
Reminder: Your response must reference your specific program AND the specific outcome you identified. Only one citation required this week.
Post your initial response to the discussion question early in the learning week (no later than Wednesday) and then respond to a minimum of two other posts no later than Sunday.
