Which best describes a logic model in program evaluation?

Which best describes a logic model in program evaluation?

• A. A detailed statistical plan for causal inference using randomized trials.
• B. A narrative of stakeholder experiences without measurable components.
• C. A framework linking resources, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts to explain how a program creates change.
• D. A financial ledger mapping costs to fiscal outcomes.

Answer: (C)

A logic model shows how a program is supposed to work by outlining the sequence from what the program has (resources, or inputs) and what it does (activities) to what it produces (outputs), the changes it aims to achieve (outcomes), and the broader effects (impacts). This framework makes the theory of change explicit—why the activities are expected to lead to desired results—and helps guide what to measure at each step to assess whether the program is moving in the right direction. It also often includes underlying assumptions and external factors that could influence the path from inputs to impacts, which is useful for planning evaluation and communicating the plan to stakeholders. The other options miss this core idea: a statistical plan focuses on study design and methods, not on the change pathway; a narrative without measurable components lacks indicators to track progress; and a financial ledger is about costs, not the causal sequence of change.

A logic model shows how a program is supposed to work by outlining the sequence from what the program has (resources, or inputs) and what it does (activities) to what it produces (outputs), the changes it aims to achieve (outcomes), and the broader effects (impacts). This framework makes the theory of change explicit—why the activities are expected to lead to desired results—and helps guide what to measure at each step to assess whether the program is moving in the right direction. It also often includes underlying assumptions and external factors that could influence the path from inputs to impacts, which is useful for planning evaluation and communicating the plan to stakeholders. The other options miss this core idea: a statistical plan focuses on study design and methods, not on the change pathway; a narrative without measurable components lacks indicators to track progress; and a financial ledger is about costs, not the causal sequence of change.