What is the purpose of a logic model in program evaluation?

The purpose of a logic model in program evaluation is to visually represent the relationship between program components and intended outcomes. A logic model serves as a planning and communication tool that illustrates how a specific program is designed to achieve its goals. It typically includes elements such as inputs (resources), activities (what the program does), outputs (the direct products of program activities), and outcomes (the results achieved).

By presenting these elements in a structured visual format, stakeholders can better understand how activities will lead to desired impacts. This clarity helps in evaluating whether the program is operating as intended and if it is likely to yield the expected outcomes. The logic model also facilitates discussions about program effectiveness and informs decisions about improvements or adjustments that may be needed.

In contrast, while financial breakdowns, participant demographics, or program history can be important pieces of information for understanding a program, they do not capture the essential causal relationships and intended pathways of change that a logic model provides.