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Constructing A Logic Model

• Basic Components of a Logic Model Framework
• Questions to Ask When Constructing a Logic Model

Basic Components of a Logic Model Framework

Developing a logic model for a NIDRR-supported project can facilitate planning and decision-making about resources needed for particular purposes, priorities within project efforts, and primary and secondary groups/systems targeted for change. Logic models can expedite some types of evaluation by clarifying the relationship between planned activities and expected results.

Figure 1 displays the basic components often associated with a logic model, and descriptive elements associated with each component are listed. Other components and elements may be added to reflect the needs of a specific project.

Figure 1: Basic Components of a Logic Model Framework

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Based on information adapted from Program Evaluation: Strategies for Assessing How Information Dissemination Contributes to Agency Goals (GAO, 2002).
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02923.pdf

Questions to Ask When Constructing a Logic Model

Logic models may vary as widely as the projects they represent. Our suggestions for NIDRR grantees present a relatively simple and straightforward logic model outline defined by seven basic elements. Questions are offered to suggest what key information is associated with each element:

1. Purpose or Situation
   • What is the overall goal of your project work?
   • Why is this important?
2. Resources or Inputs
   • What supports do you have as a result of your NIDRR grant project, other contributing agencies, and your host organization's support that enable you to perform your proposed project?
3. Activities
   • What actions, processes, events, services, products, technologies, or other elements will be used to implement your project?
   • Will your activities be exclusively offered to a specific targeted audience or members of a specific target system?
   • Will your activities be organized or “phased” in a particular manner?
4. Results or Outputs
   • What direct services, products, or research-specific materials will be developed by the project staff or its associates?
5. Short-term Outcomes
   • What changes or improvements in the identified target system will have occurred under the direct influence of project activities?
   • What changes or improvements in learning, awareness, knowledge, and attitudes will have occurred?
6. Mid-term Outcomes
   • What expected or actual changes or improvements in the identified target system will have occurred in part as a result of the use or adoption of program outputs?
   • What changes in behaviors, actions, decisions, and policies will have taken place in the identified target system in response to short-term outcomes?
7. Long-Term Outcomes
   • What changes would you expect to occur in overall conditions experienced generally by society from your project work and related efforts?
   • What changes in universal environments or social policies would be expected to occur?

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Sources

U. S. Government Accounting Office (GAO). (2002). Program evaluation: Strategies for assessing how information dissemination contributes to agency goals (Report # GAO-02-923). Washington: Author. Retrieved on August 2, 2004: http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-02-923