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0. Logic Modeling 101. Jessica Meyerson Wilder Research May 21, 2009. What is a logic model? . A logic model is a diagram that shows how your program is supposed to work. . Why should my organization have one?. They can help you develop and improve programs
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0 Logic Modeling 101 Jessica Meyerson Wilder Research May 21, 2009
What is a logic model? A logic model is a diagram that shows how your program is supposed to work. wilderresearch.org
Why should my organization have one? • They can help you develop and improve programs • They can give you a framework for evaluating your programs • Funders like ‘em!!! wilderresearch.org
What should a good logic model do? It should clearly illustrate your program’s theory of change wilderresearch.org
What is a theory of change? Your theory of change explains how your program is supposed to work. It is often expressed as a series of “if-then” statements. • If we provide quality training on developing logic models, some of you will start to use them • If you use start using logic models, then you will: • Have an opportunity to strengthen your programming • Be eligible for more funding and public support wilderresearch.org
Theory of change Continued Ideally, your program theory should be supported by at least some research. This research should indicate either that: • Your basic approach will work (e.g., stopping drunk driving will reduce alcohol related deaths) or • There is a clear and unmet need for this type of program (e.g. there are currently no programs specifically for mothers in prison) wilderresearch.org
How do I turn my theory of change into a diagram? • Logic models can take many different forms wilderresearch.org
What should my logic model look like? Any form (circle, square, trapezoid, etc.), is okay, as long as your model: • Is logical • Clearly illustrates, in a step-by-step fashion, how your activities will produce your desired results wilderresearch.org
Common Components • Most effective logic models include the following basic components: • Problem statement • Program goal(s) • Inputs • Activities • Outputs • Outcomes wilderresearch.org
Problem statement • Your problem statement should succinctly describe the problem you hope to address. For example: • African-American men are disproportionately represented in American jails • One quarter of all teenager girls are afflicted with a sexually transmitted disease • Sixty percent of Minneapolis’ high school students fail to graduate on time wilderresearch.org
Program goal(s) • Your goal statement should offer a brief description of your program’s overarching aim or purpose. For example: • To improve the status of young African-American women by reducing teen pregnancy • To increase literacy levels among low-income immigrants • To keep at-risk kids out of gangs by providing them with responsible adult mentors wilderresearch.org
Inputs • These are the resources you plan to invest in the project. For example: • Staff • Volunteers • Funds • Classroom or office space • Program materials (e.g., curricula or handouts) • Partnerships wilderresearch.org
Activities • These are the basic actions your program takes, or the services it provides, to achieve the desired results. • For example: • Offering counseling • Offering parenting education classes • Arranging for out-of-home placements wilderresearch.org
Outputs • These are the direct, tangible, products of your activities: • The number of children you place • The number of classes you offer • The number family conferences you hold • The number of families you re-unify wilderresearch.org
Outcomes • These are the changes expected to result from your program if everything works well. wilderresearch.org
Outcomes continued • They can be changes affecting individual clients, whole communities, systems, or organizations. For example: • Clients will learn new strategies for resolving family conflict • Community members will become more involved supporting at-risk families • Fewer children will be placed out-of-home wilderresearch.org
Outcomes continued Often, outcomes are divided into: Short-term outcomes (fairly rapid changes in participants’ knowledge, attitudes or skills) Intermediate outcomes (more gradual changes in a participants’ behavior or practices) Long-term outcomes (widespread changes in social, economic, or environmental conditions) wilderresearch.org
Put the pieces together… Problem statement: Over 90 million US adults are functionally illiterate or near illiterate Program Goal: To reduce adult illiteracy by offering free reading lessons Outcomes Students learn to read Inputs Tutors Classroom Space Reading materials Outputs # of students # of tutors # of sessions #books read Activities Provide free reading lessons to adults Simple logic model for a literacy tutoring program wilderresearch.org
Of course, not all models are that simple… wilderresearch.org
Complex models continued wilderresearch.org
0 Once developed, the logic model can be used to… • Describe the program to funders • Illustrate program approach to other stakeholders • Train new staff about the program • Control ‘program drift’ • Provide a basis for developing an evaluation • Facilitate program management wilderresearch.org
How , specifically, do logic models help with developing evaluations? Logic models are especially useful in outcome evaluations, because they help you: • Determine the long-term outcomes you want to achieve • Set short-term and intermediate outcomes that can be used to measure progress along the way • Some logic models will also include a list of “indicators” (measures) for each outcome wilderresearch.org
What are indicators of success??? Problem statement: Over 90 million US adults are functionally illiterate or near illiterate Program Goal: To reduce adult illiteracy by offering free reading lessons • Outcomes • Students learn • to read • Indicators • Students improve • reading test scores • Students obtain • GEDs Inputs Tutors Classroom Space Reading materials Outputs # of students # of tutors # of sessions #books read Activities Provide free reading lessons to adults Logic model for a literacy tutoring program wilderresearch.org
0 Logic Model Resources Now that we’ve gone over the basics, it’s time to start building your program’s logic model. You can find some helpful guides, tip sheets, and tools at: Wilder Research: www.wilder.org The Kellog Foundation: http://www.wkkf.org/Pubs/Tools/Evaluation/Pub3669.pdf The Community Toolbox: http://ctb.ku.edu/tools//section_1877.htm The University of Wisconsin Extension Service: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/pdande/Evaluation/evallogicmodelexamples.html wilderresearch.org