The primary purpose of program evaluation is to assess:

The primary purpose of program evaluation is to assess:

• A. The effectiveness and efficiency of programs
• B. The popularity of the program
• C. The personal preferences of program staff
• D. The weather impact on service delivery

Answer: (A)

Program evaluation focuses on whether a program works and uses resources wisely. It asks whether the intended outcomes are achieved and whether those outcomes are obtained in a cost-effective way. This combination—assessing impact (effectiveness) and resource use (efficiency)—provides information that helps stakeholders decide whether to continue, modify, or scale the program, and it supports accountability and improvement. While factors like how popular the program is or individual staff preferences can influence implementation, they do not define the program’s success. Weather or other external conditions might affect delivery, but they are context rather than the primary measure of program value. Evaluation typically traces how inputs and activities lead to outputs and, ultimately, to outcomes, often using a logic model to map these connections and guide decisions.

Program evaluation focuses on whether a program works and uses resources wisely. It asks whether the intended outcomes are achieved and whether those outcomes are obtained in a cost-effective way. This combination—assessing impact (effectiveness) and resource use (efficiency)—provides information that helps stakeholders decide whether to continue, modify, or scale the program, and it supports accountability and improvement. While factors like how popular the program is or individual staff preferences can influence implementation, they do not define the program’s success. Weather or other external conditions might affect delivery, but they are context rather than the primary measure of program value. Evaluation typically traces how inputs and activities lead to outputs and, ultimately, to outcomes, often using a logic model to map these connections and guide decisions.